Francesca Woodman creates haunting self portraits, which become more poignant when knowing she suffered from depression and took her own life at the age of 22. Her work was arguably not noticed while she was alive, but after her tragic death the work took on a whole new meaning and gave importance to it.
Using herself within her work was a matter of convince as she was always available to use. Woodman often used long exposures to create the ghost figures within her work, playing with they idea of death. Her work often consisted of reoccurring symbols such as skulls and birds which have their own meaning. The use of black and white further plays on the idea of death and depression.
“Am I in the picture? Am I getting in or out of it? I could be a ghost, an animal or a dead body, not just this girl standing on the corner …?” Woodman once stated.
Final Major Project Kirsty Powell 