standing Black woman wearing a white V-neck nightgown-like garment at the edge of water with a rock at right; printed in brown; received matted

I Just Came Across the River, 2017

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Created through the Van Dyke printing method—a form of argentotype named after the Dutch painter, Sir Anthony Van Dyke—this meditative portrait of a woman calf-deep in water is rich in cultural and historical allusions. Her white dress hearkens to the traditions of evangelical Protestant baptism, while the river identified in the title suggests the topographical and metaphorical history of liberation from slavery. Taken at a moment of rebirth and renewal, Speller’s photograph conveys her subject’s awe through stillness, calm, and peaceful self-reflection.

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Details
Title
I Just Came Across the River
Artist Life
born 1983
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2020.57
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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standing Black woman wearing a white V-neck nightgown-like garment at the edge of water with a rock at right; printed in brown; received matted
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