Nude black female with shaved head, her angular face in profile looking off to the right is clothed with white fabric draped over half of her body, exposing one breast on the left side. “Ada,1982” is a black and white photograph by artist Robert Mapplethorpe. Known for his provocative images of nude men, flowers, and self-portraits, Mapplethorpe’s portrait of the woman Ada, a figure unknown to me, elicits my curiosity. What draws me in is the way she presents herself to the camera. Her dark, rich skin color envelops throughout her body’s perfect symmetry. Her elegantly curved neck and sloping shoulder, the long tapered fingers encompass such grace and composure–I want to know more about her and her story. Does her queen-like appearance indicate royalty or, as I suspect, she is a survivor. A survivor whose beauty belies her ability to seduce us with an intelligence and grace.
Mapplethorpe is more commonly known for his interrogation of representations of homeorotic desire, challenging the viewer with his blunt treatment of controversial subject-matter. In Ada, though partially nude, her powerful body is not overtly sexualized; her beauty reminiscent of classical Greek sculptures. I am currently researching for more information about Ada; her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, the context of this photograph and others he took of her. This blog post is an entry point to a future podcast episode. Stay tuned!
Image Credit: The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation