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Collections

Robert Mapplethorpe
Z Portfolio1981

Not on view
Dark espresso-brown cloth-covered box or portfolio case, nearly square, with a small gold sans-serif letter 'Z' centered on the front face and repeated on the spine
Gelatin silver print, close-cropped profile portrait of a man, bare-shouldered, facing left against a neutral gray background, with high-contrast studio lighting emphasizing skin texture and natural hair.
Black and white portrait photograph of a man in strict profile facing left, bare-shouldered, against a neutral gray background, with sharp contrast highlighting facial structure and natural hair.
Gelatin silver print, full rear view of a nude figure seated atop a tall dark wooden pedestal, head bowed, with dramatic studio lighting emphasizing the musculature of the back against a neutral gray backdrop.
Gelatin silver print, rear view of a nude figure seated atop a tall dark wooden pedestal, head bowed, with dramatic side lighting emphasizing the musculature of the back, against a neutral studio backdrop.
Gelatin silver print, close-up study of a male torso from chest to hips, cropped at the shoulders and upper thighs, with dramatic side lighting that emphasizes muscular definition. Edition number and signature in pencil below the image.
Gelatin silver print of a nude male figure leaning forward with arms and legs spread wide, facing the camera directly, his shadow cast dramatically on a light background behind him.
Gelatin silver print, close-cropped frontal nude torso with hands interlaced at center, dramatic side lighting emphasizing muscular form against a neutral gray background.
Gelatin silver print, close-up nude study of a figure's back and lower torso seen from behind, dramatically lit against a neutral gray background, emphasizing curved forms and skin texture.
Gelatin silver print, nude figure seen from behind, turned in three-quarter profile with one hand resting at the lower back, short light-colored hair contrasting against dark skin, dramatic geometric shadow cutting diagonally across the upper right background.
Gelatin silver print, nude figure viewed from behind with short bleached hair, one hand resting at the lower back, set against bold geometric shadows forming sharp diagonal planes across the upper right.
Gelatin silver print, a nude figure seated atop a potter's wheel table, leaning forward with hands on the wheel mechanism, strong directional lighting casting dramatic shadows on a light background.
Gelatin silver print of a nude male figure seated atop a pottery wheel, leaning forward with one arm extended toward the wheel's metal rim, casting a strong shadow on a pale background.
Gelatin silver print, torso-level view of a figure in a light-colored three-piece suit, with exposed genitalia visible through the open jacket, hands at sides against a neutral gray background.
Gelatin silver print of a standing nude male figure, head obscured by a fabric hood, arms crossed at the torso with interlaced fingers, against a neutral gray background with dramatic studio lighting.
Gelatin silver print, torso-level studio photograph of a standing male figure, shirtless with white briefs and jeans lowered at the hips, shot against a neutral gray background with strong directional lighting that emphasizes muscular form.
Gelatin silver print, rear view of a nude male figure seen from behind, with a second figure's hands resting on the shoulders and leg visible at right; strong directional lighting emphasizes musculature against a neutral gray background.
Gelatin silver print, full-length studio nude of a seated man facing forward, hands resting on knees, posed atop draped white fabric pooled on a wooden floor against a plain gray backdrop.
White square publication cover with a single letter "Z" in small black sans-serif type centered near the middle, and a name printed in spaced capitals near the bottom.
Museum catalog page with three columns of printed text in small type, featuring the title 'The Irresponsible Art of Robert Mapplethorpe' at upper left, on white background.
Printed book spread with dense paragraphs of black text on white pages; left page bears an essay heading and body text, right page lists 13 numbered names and locations with years ranging from 1979 to 1981.
Portfolio colophon page with printed text noting edition details and a handwritten signature below, numbered 7 of 31, on white paper.
Flat square clamshell box covered in dark brown cloth, with a small gold foil letter "N" stamped on the lid and spine.
Three square clamshell portfolio boxes arranged in a slightly overlapping row: black, gray, and dark brown, each embossed with a gold letter—X, Y, and Z respectively—centered on the front cover.
Artist or Maker
Robert Mapplethorpe
United States, 1946–1989, active New York City
Title
Z Portfolio
Date Made
1981
Medium
Gelatin silver prints
Dimensions
Image (each): 7 1/2 × 7 7/16 in. (19.05 × 18.89 cm) Primary support (each): 7 1/2 × 7 7/16 in. (19.05 × 18.89 cm) Secondary support (each): 13 1/2 × 12 13/16 in. (34.29 × 32.54 cm) Overall: 15 1/16 × 13 7/8 × 2 1/8 in. (38.26 × 35.24 × 5.4 cm)
Credit Line
Jointly acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The J. Paul Getty Trust; Partial gift of The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation; partial purchase with funds provided by The David Geffen Foundation and The J. Paul Getty Trust
Accession Number
M.2011.30.77.1-.15
Classification
Photographs
Collecting Area
Photography