American Gothic, 2009

Indicative of Ralph Gibson's later work with color photography, this piece explores the cultural symbols that the photographer has been surrounded by since his childhood. By superimposing iconic American images on top of one another and juxtaposing dense color with grainy black and white, this atmospheric work exudes a dark, brooding depth and an opaque narrative of implied symbolic meaning.

Intimate, erotic, and eerie, Ralph Gibson can transform even an empty corner of a room into a poetic masterpiece with his signature Leica lens and a stark, meditative eye. Gibson began training for his long photographic career in the Navy and continued to hone his craft at the San Francisco Art Institute. He worked as an assistant to Dorothea Lange and Robert Frank, who inspired the 1970 publication of Gibson's first book, The Somnambulist.

His photographs, then and now, exude tension and barely contained energy. By turns sexual, disquieting, and surreal, each image is a narrative unto itself. His image Nude With Feather is one of the most coveted nude images on the art market today. The recipient of countless awards, including a fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 1985 and two honorary doctorates, Gibson continues to inspire younger photographers with international exhibitions and more than 40 publications.

All our frames are manufactured in the USA, using eco-friendly and sustainably sourced engineered hardwood for durability and a uniform finish that is free of defects. Frames are available in Black or White Satin and Honey Pecan.

All prints are hinged to a conservation quality, acid-free and lignin-free Alpha Cellulose matboard, using an acid-free linen tape. The mat's surface paper is fade and bleed resistant and is attached to a conservation quality foam-core mounting board that will keep the work safe from deterioration over time. Artworks with a deckled or decorative edges will be floated on the matboard, with acrylic spacers to separate the art from the glazing. All mounting is fully reversible, without any potential damage to the art.

All of our frames come with picture quality .090 mm plexiglass, which blocks 66% of UV to prevent color fading from exposure to light, keeping your art protected for years to come. It is now considered the industry standard for artists, museums and galleries throughout the world.

For images up to 30" x 40"

• 1 1/4” wide, 3/4” deep, with a 2 1/2” wide mat.
• We generally leave 1/4” - 1/2” of paper showing around the image, to accommodate signatures and for visual appeal.

For sheet sizes larger than 30” x 40" please contact an Artspace advisor for a custom quote.

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Our framed art editions ship in 11 to 14 business days from New York.

This work is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt of delivery.

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