Raymonde April

Je m’effondrai en larmes sur le lit, 1978

© Raymonde April

Raymonde April, Je m’effondrai en larmes sur le lit, © Raymonde April
Artist
Raymonde April
Title
Je m’effondrai en larmes sur le lit
Dimensions and medium
Gelatin silver print, 41.5 × 51.5 cm
Artwork description
Between 1978 and 1979, Raymonde April produced her “captioned” self-portraits that exposed and subverted the mechanics of representation specifically through self-representation. These photographs probe the boundary between reality and fiction through scenes that are frozen in time and dramatized by, among other things, the use of theatrical lighting to reveal the actions of a young woman (April) in a variety of emotional states. The use of text here, printed on the lower frame, is pivotal. As both reference and commentary, it suggests a distancing between the writing and the image that necessarily involves the viewer in the continuation of the drama’s key elements. The caption Je m'effondrai en larmes sur le lit. (I burst into tears on the bed) describes the photograph’s composition in successive terms: “je” in reference to the person on the bed with the camera; and “en larmes” in reference to the artist’s face hidden in shadow. The narrative element transcends the literality of the word and the gesture to convey mood, status and identity and expresses the precariousness of the implicit.

See Also

Réminiscence, 2012, Inkjet print on aluminum, A.P..
Nicolas Baier, Réminiscence, 2012 Réminiscence, 2012, Inkjet print on aluminum, A.P..
Double Talk, 1982, Tinted gelatin silver print, 3/10.
George Legrady, Double Talk, 1982 Double Talk, 1982, Tinted gelatin silver print, 3/10.
The Last Image. Blind with couch, 2010, 4 Inkjet prints mounted on aluminum, 2 plexiglass casings, and 2 metal frames, 1/3.
Sophie Calle, Aveugle au divan (de la série « La Dernière image », 2010), 2010 The Last Image. Blind with couch, 2010, 4 Inkjet prints mounted on aluminum, 2 plexiglass casings, and 2 metal frames, 1/3.
Self Portrait with Skeleton, 2003, Cibachrome print, 4/5.
Marina Abramovic, Self Portrait with Skeleton, 2003 Self Portrait with Skeleton, 2003, Cibachrome print, 4/5.
Lio dans les herbes, 1984, Painted Chromogenic print.
Pierre et Gilles, Lio dans les herbes, 1984 Lio dans les herbes, 1984, Painted Chromogenic print.
Shipbreaking No. 29, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2001, printed of 2002, Chromogenic print, 2/10.
Edward Burtynsky, Shipbreaking No. 29, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2001, printed of 2002 Shipbreaking No. 29, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2001, printed of 2002, Chromogenic print, 2/10.
Irises, after Van Gogh (from Pictures of Magazines), 2004, Chromogenic print, 5/6.
Vik Muniz, Irises, after Van Gogh (from Pictures of Magazines), 2004 Irises, after Van Gogh (from Pictures of Magazines), 2004, Chromogenic print, 5/6.
Modus vivendi, 1985, 2 colour Polaroid prints.
Abramovic et Ulay, Modus vivendi, 1985 Modus vivendi, 1985, 2 colour Polaroid prints.
Generic Man, 1987-1989, printed of 2002, Duratrans display transparency and light box.
Jana Sterbak, Generic Man, 1987-1989, printed of 2002 Generic Man, 1987-1989, printed of 2002, Duratrans display transparency and light box.
Rescue Effort, 2007, Digital chromogenic print, 1/5.
Carlos & Jason Sanchez, Rescue Effort, 2007 Rescue Effort, 2007, Digital chromogenic print, 1/5.
Exposure #44, Barmsee, Bavaria, 08.18.06, 4:37 p.m., 2006, Inkjet print, 5/5.
Barbara Probst, Exposure #44, Barmsee, Bavaria, 08.18.06, 4:37 p.m., 2006 Exposure #44, Barmsee, Bavaria, 08.18.06, 4:37 p.m., 2006, Inkjet print, 5/5.
Oval (Montmorency Falls, Beauport, Quebec, August 2000), 2000, 36 chromogenic prints.
Bill Vazan, Ovale (Chutes Montmorency, Beauport, Québec, août 2000), 2000 Oval (Montmorency Falls, Beauport, Quebec, August 2000), 2000, 36 chromogenic prints.
Nicolaas, 1995, 15 chromogenic prints.
Alain Laframboise, Nicolaas, 1995 Nicolaas, 1995, 15 chromogenic prints.
Debout sur le rivage, 1984, 9 silver gelatin prints.
Raymonde April, Debout sur le rivage, 1984 Debout sur le rivage, 1984, 9 silver gelatin prints.
Andor Pasztor, Montréal, 1977, printed of 1979, Silver gelatin print and chromogenic print.
Gabor Szilasi, Andor Pasztor, Montréal, 1977, printed of 1979 Andor Pasztor, Montréal, 1977, printed of 1979, Silver gelatin print and chromogenic print.
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