"I Thirst" (from the Seven Last Words of Christ)

F. Holland Day did not shy away from controversial subject matter. Around 1898, Day began a series in which he portrayed himself as Jesus Christ. To prepare for the role, he starved himself to lose weight, grew his hair and beard, and wore a crown of thorns. To make this close-up, Day used a mirror attached to his camera to ensure that he expressed the appropriate degree of human suffering.

A man of independent means, sophisticated wit, and refined tastes, Day fully embraced the artistic and symbolic potential of photography. He often found inspiration in classical, literary, and religious subject matter.