Art Photograph Nude Woman
In this art photograph, a nude woman holds a garment which she appears to be either removing from or putting into a washing machine. The clothes washer has its lid open and is centered in the frame on a black-and-white checkerboard-patterned vinyl floor. A slim portion of a clothing dryer is visible at the right, just enough is shown to identify the appliance.
The central figure is predominantly lit from the right, with deep shadows defining her back through her legs. Her face and hair glow in an unseen light source, perhaps a rising or setting sun outside an adjacent window.
Two knobs are visible on the control panel of the clothes dryer. The panel has a gleaming brushed-metallic finish. Above the woman are three cabinets. Two knobs are visible on the cabinet doors, repeating the shape of the knobs on the dryer. Behind her is a door, recognizable only by a single hinge, the rest of the door is hidden by a thick curtain. The lines of the appliances, door frame, and cabinet are straight up and down, as well as left to right.
On the back wall, visible in the gap between the washer and the door is an electrical cord plugged into an outlet. The cord forms a wavy black line. The other similarly wavy lines in this composition are the curtain on the door, the woman’s light hair, and the fabric that she holds.
The incongruity of the unexpected scene is that a nude woman is performing the everyday task of doing laundry. The image is clearly a performance: she has a single garment and her stance prioritizes being seen over completing her presumed task.
Other than her nudity, there are few distinctive elements in the scene. The nondescript cabinetry and confined space make it appear to be the laundry room of a modest home.
The black-and-white checkerboard flooring has a nostalgic flair and draws interest to the setting. The classic tile pattern is one well suited to a monochromatic photograph. Compositionally, the flooring pattern is an example of perceptive lines in an image that is mostly structured through horizontal and vertical lines. In this way, it is one of the few elements that gives the small space a sense of depth.
