L to R: All artworks and artist book by Francesca Woodman. Spread from "Some Disordered Interior Geometries," 1980. Found notebook with 16 gelatin silver prints, 24 pages + cover. 9 x 6 1/2 in. Included in the exhibition: First edition published by Synapse Press, 1981. "Almost a square," Providence, Rhode Island, 1977. 4 11/16 x 4 15/16 in. Gelatin silver print / “angels,” Rome, Italy, 1977-78. 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. Gelatin silver print.
Spread from "Some Disordered Interior Geometries," 1980. Found notebook with 16 gelatin silver prints, 24 pages + cover. 9 x 6 1/2 in.
Francesca Woodman in "Books Revisited," Center for Book Arts, New York, October 7-December 10, 2022
Each of the works in this exhibition use existing books as raw material, examining ways that narrative, history and knowledge occupy space within and beyond the material and conceptual boundaries of books. Francesca Woodman created a number of artist’s books, attaching her photographs and writings into found books, often from Italy.
Artworks L to R: George Woodman. “Beauty is Truth,” 1976. 52 x 52 in. Acrylic on canvas / Francesca Woodman. “Charlie the Model #10,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976-77. 5 5/16 x 5 3/8 in. Vintage gelatin silver print / Betty Woodman. “Rain Forest Pillow Pitcher,” c. 1980s. 20 x 24 x 16 in. Glazed earthenware. Courtesy RISD Museum.
George Woodman. “Beauty is Truth,” 1976. 52 x 52 in. Acrylic on canvas.
RISD Museum Acquisitions
We’re thrilled that RISD Museum has acquired a group of important works by Betty, Francesca, and George Woodman from the Foundation’s holdings through a combination of museum funds and Foundation gifts. RISD occupies a singular place of importance for the Woodman family, from Francesca’s formative years there as a young artist and student to Betty’s 2005 solo exhibition at the museum and RISD Honorary Degree in 2009.
_RH.jpg)
L to R: All artworks by Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” New York, 1979-80. 4 15/16 x 3 15/16 in / Vintage fox fur from Francesca Woodman’s archives / “Untitled,” New York, 1979-80. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 in / “Untitled,” New York, 1979. 5 13/16 x 5 13/16 in / “Untitled (from Swan Song series),” Providence, Rhode Island, 1978. 34 1/2 x 40 1/2 in / “Untitled,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 3/4 x 5 3/4 in / “Untitled,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 in.
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” New York, 1979-80. 4 15/16 x 3 15/16 in. Gelatin silver print.
Vintage fox fur from Francesca Woodman's archives used in her work, 1976-80: From the Archives...
The Foundation’s archives include many of the dresses, shoes, scarves, gloves and other clothing that Francesca Woodman used in her photographs and in her daily life. This fox fur, probably picked up at a vintage shop or flea market like much that she wore, makes an appearance in many of her photographs.
L to R: Betty Woodman, Italy, c. 1965-66 / Betty Woodman, Charles Woodman, and Francesca Woodman, Italy, c. 1960s / Charles Woodman and friend, Italy, c. 1966 / Betty Woodman and friends, Italy, c. 1966 / Betty Woodman, Francesca Woodman, and friend, Antella, Italy, c. 1968 / Betty Woodman and friends, Antella, Italy, c. 1980 / Betty Woodman, Antella, Italy, c. 1995 / George Woodman, Antella, Italy, c. 1995 / Betty Woodman, George Woodman, and friends, Antella, Italy, c. 1995.
Betty Woodman, Italy, c. 1965-66.
Dining al fresco with the Woodman family, c. 1960s-1995: From the Archives...
The Woodman family spent many summer days and evenings dining al fresco in Italy with family and friends throughout the years. Most of these snapshots were taken by George, who often had his camera in hand and documented their family life.
L to R: Betty Woodman, Charles Woodman, and Francesca Woodman, 1959 / George Woodman and Francesca Woodman, 1964 / Francesca Woodman, 1964 / 4-5: Charles Woodman, 1962 / Betty Woodman, 1959.
Betty Woodman, Charles Woodman, and Francesca Woodman, 1959
Summer with the Woodman family, 1959-1964: STAFF PICKS
Emma Horning is a Library and Information Science graduate student at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. As the Foundation’s Archives Intern, she has been digitizing photographic slides and prints in the collection and building a database to manage these archival materials: Summer brings us bountiful sun-drenched days. As a family, the Woodmans spent the summer months soaking in the potential the season brings.
L to R: All artworks by Francesca Woodman. 1 & 3: Installation view, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1980 / "Study for Tree Piece,” New York, c. 1980. 14 1/2 x 15 1/4 in. Diazotype / 4-5: “Untitled,” MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1980. 2 13/16 x 9 15/16 in. Gelatin silver print. Letter on reverse of print / “Untitled,” MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1980. 11 x 14 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman. Installation view, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1980.
Francesca Woodman, MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1980: From the Archives...
Francesca Woodman spent three weeks in July of 1980 on a fellowship at the MacDowell Colony, surrounded by other artists, as well as musicians, poets, novelists and the forests of rural New Hampshire. She arrived there from New York, already thinking about trees.
L to R: The Woodman family and friends throughout the years in Antella, Italy, c. 1960s-2010s.
The Woodman family and friends, Antella, Italy, c. 1960s.
The breakfast nook, Antella, Italy, c. 1960s-2010s: From the Archives...
For over fifty years, the Woodman family has enjoyed many meals and conversations in the breakfast nook at their farmhouse in Antella, Italy. Built in a circular space that had originally housed a brick oven, the nook overlooks the hills of Tuscany and spectacular sunsets.
_CD.JPG)
L to R: 1-2: "Segno: Notiziario di arte contemporanea," Issue 9, summer 1978 / Francesca Woodman. "From Space2,” Providence, Rhode Island, 1976. 6 3/8 x 6 3/8 in. Gelatin silver print.
"Segno: Notiziario di arte contemporanea," Issue 9, summer 1978.
Francesca Woodman, Segno Magazine, 1978: From the Archives...
In the summer of 1978, Francesca Woodman’s photograph “Space 2” was featured in the Italian contemporary art magazine “Segno.” In the accompanying text, she explained that her original idea for the image came from her desire to illustrate literary metaphors but evolved over a group of photographs into a kind of story following a figure who explores these metaphors.
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” New York, 1979. 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman. “Untitled,” New York, 1979. 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman in "Feminist Avant-Garde of the 1970s," Museum of Contemporary Art of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia, May 19-June 24, 2022
As part of an extensive international exhibition tour, “Feminist Avant-Garde of the 1970s” opens today at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, Serbia. Organized by the Sammlung Verbund and drawing on works from their in-depth collections, the exhibition presents photography, video, film and performance by seventy-eight pioneering female artists of the 1970s, including photographs by Francesca Woodman. On view through June 24th.
Francesca Woodman. “Caryatid B,” New York, 1980. 71.2 x 36.25 in. Archival pigment estate print.
Francesca Woodman. “Caryatid B,” New York, 1980. 71.2 x 36.25 in. Archival pigment estate print.
Francesca Woodman in "Women and Change," Arken Museum of Modern Art, Denmark, February 5-August 15, 2022
“Women and Change” at the Arken Museum of Modern Art in Denmark considers unfolding depictions of women in Western art history over the past 150 years, a period that roughly parallels the history of the women’s rights movement. The exhibition presents works by 64 international artists that challenge ideas about the body, gender, identity and history, including Francesca Woodman’s “Caryatid” (1980).
Both images Francesca Woodman at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1980.
Francesca Woodman at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1980.
Francesca Woodman, Coney Island, Brooklyn, 1980: From the Archives...
Born on this day in 1958 in Boulder, Colorado, Francesca Woodman lived and worked in Providence, Rhode Island, Rome and New York City. Here she is on a summer day at the Coney Island boardwalk.
Francesca Woodman. “Self-portrait talking to Vince," Providence, Rhode Island, 1977. 5 3/16 x 5 1/8 in. Gelatin silver print.
Francesca Woodman. “Self-portrait talking to Vince," Providence, Rhode Island, 1977. 5 3/16 x 5 1/8 in. Gelatin silver print.
OPENING TOMORROW Francesca Woodman in "girls girls girls," Lismore Castle Arts, Lismore, Ireland, April 2-October 30, 2022
Francesca Woodman in “girls girls girls” at Lismore Castle Arts, Lismore, Ireland. On view April 2 through October 30, 2022. Curated by Simone Rocha.