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Self-portrait of Childhood, State of Mexico, Chalma
Self-portrait of Childhood, State of Mexico, Chalma

Self-portrait of Childhood, State of Mexico, Chalma

Original Language TitleAutoretrato de la Infancia
Artist Graciela Iturbide (Mexican, born 1942)
Date1984; printed 2003
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 8 11/16 × 12 5/8 inches (22.07 × 32.07 cm)
Sheet: 10 15/16 × 13 15/16 inches (27.78 × 35.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Jay H. McDonald in appreciation of Jean McDonald Deacy
Object number2003.38.5
SignedSigned on sheet recto, lower right, in black pen: "Graciela Iturbide"
InscribedOn sheet verso, bottom, in pencil: "auto rretrato de infancia Chalma 1984"
MarkingsOn sheet verso, lower right, in pencil: "2003.38.5"
On View
Not on view
Collections
DescriptionImage of a young child dressed as an angel, walking on dirt path, holding an adult's hand. Child is looking up towards camera. Adult is out of frame.Exhibition History

Treasure of Mexico in Kansas City. The Consulate of Mexico, Kansas City, MO, April 16 – July 16, 2012, no cat.

Rotation 22. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, August 10, 2016- January 8, 2017, no cat.

Gallery Label

In this image of a young girl, Graciela Iturbide finds some personal connection to her own childhood. The girl, dressed to celebrate the feast day of San Miguel Arcangel, holds the hand of someone outside the frame. The exclusion of this presumably adult figure focuses attention on the child and her world.

 

Iturbide was born in Mexico City and studied photography with Manuel Alvarez Bravo. As inspiration, Bravo suggested that she explore the customs of pre-Hispanic Mexico outside the city. Her photographs are at once documentations of her subjects and her own personal discoveries.

Provenance
Jay MacDonald, Santa Monica, CA;
Given by Jay MacDonald to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2003.
Copyright© Graciela Iturbide
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