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Identification and Creation

Object Number
M26683
People
Glenn Ligon, American (Bronx, NY born 1960)
Dieu Donné Papermill, American
Title
Self-Portrait at Eleven Years Old
Classification
Prints
Work Type
print
Date
2004
Culture
American
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/6877

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Cotton base sheet with stenciled pulp painting
Dimensions
91.5 x 76.2 cm (36 x 30 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Signed: l.l. in graphite pencil: Glenn Ligon 2004; l.r. in graphite pencil: 11/20

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
[Dieu Donné Paper Mill, Inc., New York, New York], sold; to Harvard University Art Museums, December 15, 2005.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Edition
11/20

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Margaret Fisher Fund
Copyright
© 2004 Glenn Ligon
Accession Year
2005
Object Number
M26683
Division
Modern and Contemporary Art
Contact
am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Commentary
"Self-Portrait at Eleven Years Old" is another example of Glenn Ligon using images and words of his cultural heroes to explore his own identity. The paper-pulp print depicts Stevie Wonder as pictured on his 1977 compilation album, "Looking Back." The musician looks very 1970s chic--wearing dark aviator glasses, a short, tight afro, and a wide-collared nylon shirt. Light sparkles from the corner of his glasses.

The print was made at the papermaking studio, Dieu Donné. It is composed of a series of pulp-paper circles that are grouped together like giant Ben-Day dots. To make the image, Ligon made a drawing based on the album cover that was then printed on mylar. Stencils were cut from the mylar sheets and paper pulp was pushed through the cut-out circles onto a light blue sheet of paper. The raised circles of black and white paper pulp give the image a three-dimensional presence.

Exhibition History

  • Contemporary Art from the Harvard University Art Museums Collections, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 06/23/2007 - 01/31/2008
  • 32Q: 3620 University Study Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/17/2014 - 02/13/2015

Subjects and Contexts

  • Collection Highlights

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Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art at am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu