FAKING IT: Curated by Mia Fineman

 Mia Fineman, Asst Curator, Department of Photographs

Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop

EA: How long did you research for this exhibition? Mia Fineman: About three years traveling all over Europe and North America visiting collections, museums, archives, and private collectors. EA: Are there certain images that are your favorites? Mia Fineman: I was extremely happy to discover the negatives for the Yves Klein “Leap Into The Void”.  That was very exciting. I’ve always loved that image. That would probably be what I’m proudest of.

 Leap into the Void, 1960

© Yves Klein, ADAGP, Paris; Photo: Shunk-Kender 

© Roy Lichtenstein Foundation 

 Dimanche–Le Journal d'un seul jour

Yves Klein, November 27, 1960

Mia Fineman: I also love the vernacular images of the decapitations. EA: I had no idea there were so many. Mia Fineman: I didn’t either until I’d started working on this show seeing so many of them and wondered why this was such a popular motif. I eventually figured out the motif of decapitation was a big thing in stage magic at the same time.

 Man Serving Head on a Platter Date, ca. 1900

William Robert Bowles (1861–1918 Hopkinsville, Kentucky)

Twentieth-Century Photography Fund, 2011

 

 Man Juggling His Own Head, ca. 1880

Saint Thomas D'Aquin

He Lost His Head, 1910s
Unknown, American
Gift of Robert, Catherine and Molly Yoskowitz, 2011

Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop

 October 11, 2012—January 27, 2013

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

 ALSO VIEW:

Faking It: The Show | Faking It: The Opening