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.
L to R: George Woodman, c. 1970s / George Woodman. “Loie with Sculpture as Herself,” 2007. Gelatin silver print / Painting by George Woodman, c. 1970s. Courtesy Remo Brindisi House Museum / George Woodman, c. 2010s.
George Woodman on view in collection of Remo Brindisi House Museum, Lido Di Spina, Italy
George Woodman on view in this collection of Remo Brindisi House Museum, Lido Di Spina, 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.
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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.
Our Archive & Library Intern Hafsa Habib.
Our Archive & Library Intern Hafsa Habib.
Thank you to our Archive & Library Intern Hafsa Habib
It has been an enormous pleasure to have our Archive & Library Intern Hafsa Habib working alongside us this summer as part of the Studio Institute Arts Intern program. Hafsa has spent the summer reorganizing and rehousing Betty Woodman’s slide library collection which was no small task! Here she is with her completed project.
L to R: All artworks by George Woodman. “Untitled,” 1969, ed. of 22. 20 x 28 in / “Untitled,” 1968, ed. of 19. 22 1/2 x 30 in. “Untitled,” c. 1970s. 28 x 20 in / “La Nuvola II,” 1970, ed. of 11. 39 1/4 x 28 in / All screenprints on paper.
George Woodman. “Untitled,” 1969, ed. of 22. 20 x 28 in. Screenprint on paper.
George Woodman's screenprints, c. 1960s-70s: STAFF PICKS
Lissa McClure, The Woodman Family Foundation’s Executive Director: When I began at the Foundation three years ago, after knowing Betty and George for over a decade, I thought I knew most of the work each of the Woodmans had made. I soon realized how wrong I was! One of the biggest surprises, and a pure delight, was encountering George Woodman’s early prints from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
L to R: George Woodman, c. 1960s-1990s.
George Woodman, c. 1960s.
George Woodman's summer travels, c. 1960s-1990s: From the Archives...
Here are a series of portraits of George Woodman, an avid world traveler. George soaked up endless inspiration for art making and life on the family's summer travels throughout the years.
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: All artworks by Betty Woodman. “Ladies Engaged in Unnecessary Activities,” 2017. 36 x 180 x 72 in / “Jules & Jim,” 2016. 9 x 36 x 15 in. All glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, fabric.
Betty Woodman. “Ladies Engaged in Unnecessary Activities,” 2017. 36 x 180 x 72 in. Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, paint, fabric.
Betty Woodman, "Fabric Girls," 2002-2017: STAFF PICKS
Hafsa Habib, The Woodman Family Foundation’s Archive & Library Intern through the Studio Institute’s Summer Arts Intern program: When I came across Betty Woodman's "Fabric Girls" series, I immediately was drawn to the colorful sculptures that were each meticulously adorned in fabric. The dynamic poses of the figures give them each a life of their own.
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.