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

Chemin de fer, 1994, Gelatin silver print, 1/3.
Angela Grauerholz, Chemin de fer, 1994 Chemin de fer, 1994, Gelatin silver print, 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.
Generic Man, 1987-1989, printed of 2002, Duratran display transparency and light box.
Jana Sterbak, Generic Man, 1987-1989, printed of 2002 Generic Man, 1987-1989, printed of 2002, Duratran display transparency and light box.
Red Man, 2004, Inkjet print mounted under plexiglass, 1/7.
Chih-Chien Wang, Red Man, 2004 Red Man, 2004, Inkjet print mounted under plexiglass, 1/7.
ID, 1990, 2 gelatin silver prints, frames and plastic plates, 3/4.
Lorna Simpson, ID, 1990 ID, 1990, 2 gelatin silver prints, frames and plastic plates, 3/4.
Fragments (de la série « Le Chasseur d’images », 1991 - 1994), 1992, 82 gelatin silver prints, 82 wooden frames and needles, 1/3.
Roberto Pellegrinuzzi, Fragments (de la série « Le Chasseur d’images », 1991 - 1994), 1992 Fragments (de la série « Le Chasseur d’images », 1991 - 1994), 1992, 82 gelatin silver prints, 82 wooden frames and needles, 1/3.
Vault, 2012, Chromogenic print mounted under plexiglass, 6/6.
Thomas Demand, Vault, 2012 Vault, 2012, Chromogenic print mounted under plexiglass, 6/6.
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.
Blindsight, 2005, Digital chromogenic print, 2/5.
Isabelle Hayeur, Blindsight, 2005 Blindsight, 2005, Digital chromogenic print, 2/5.
Le Corps du ciel, 1992, 2 chromogenic prints mounted on plexiglass, 1/2.
Geneviève Cadieux, Le Corps du ciel, 1992 Le Corps du ciel, 1992, 2 chromogenic prints mounted on plexiglass, 1/2.
Spa, 2000, Chromogenic print, 3/4.
Lynne Cohen, Spa, 2000 Spa, 2000, Chromogenic print, 3/4.
Réminiscence, 2012, Inkjet print on aluminum, A.P..
Nicolas Baier, Réminiscence, 2012 Réminiscence, 2012, Inkjet print on aluminum, A.P..
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.
Lio dans les herbes, 1984, Chromogenic print painted.
Pierre et Gilles, Lio dans les herbes, 1984 Lio dans les herbes, 1984, Chromogenic print painted.
Rescue Effort, 2007, Digital chromogenic print, 1/5.
Carlos & Jason Sanchez, Rescue Effort, 2007 Rescue Effort, 2007, Digital chromogenic print, 1/5.
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