Nan Goldin is one real ass bitch that refuses to sugarcoat anything, not even her own destruction.

In this self-portrait we see Goldin sitting on a bed at a rehab center for drug and alcohol addiction. Rehab is generally not something people publicize, but there is no topic too personal for Nan Goldin to photograph. I feel she would have made a great addition to Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.

The blurry image is no accident. Goldin captured herself in such a way to convey her emotional state and the dark reality that had become her life. Battling with drugs and sexual debauchery, Goldin made a career out of highlighting the darker side of living. Her painfully poignant and unforgiving, honest style has afforded her success in the art world.

This photo was taken in the wake of her series of photos entitled The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. Catchy name no? This work served as a sort of diary for Goldin. She explains, “The diary is my form of control over my life. It allows me to obsessively record every detail. It enables me to remember.” It’s probably a good call because it is safe to assume with the amount she partied, plenty of memories probably slipped through the cracks...along with a plethora of brain cells.

Through this entire struggle, Goldin still somehow manages to look stunning. I think it's her fire engine red lipstick that does it. Nonetheless, this composure and sexiness in the face of destruction is probably why former president Bill Clinton credited her for having invented heroin chic (...which he then used to bash her and the fashion industry). Whatever Bill, I wouldn’t say you are a shining beacon of purity either. We all have our vices, Goldin just figured out how to make a career out of them rather than a scandal like some presidents we know.