Cindy Sherman’s Untitled #216 puts a new spin on famous art historical images.

Untitled #216 is part of the artist’s "History Portraits" series, which was inspired by paintings by famous artists such as Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael.

For these photos, Sherman imitated iconic art historical depictions, but also mocked them by using clearly visible make-up, wigs, and peculiar-looking prostheses. The results are photographs with an uncanny, off-putting, comical, and sometimes downright terrifying effect. The art critic Hal Foster even called them “butt-ugly aristocrats.” The motivation for these artworks was Sherman’s growing disgust for the sacred and religious status of art. Instead, she wanted to make something anyone could enjoy. Works like Untitled #216 are supposed to imitate these revered paintings ironically. 

Untitled #216 is based on a real work from the 15^th century by the French painter Jean Fouquet titled Madonna surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim. It might be hard to believe but the exposed breast depicted in the original looks just as stuck on and artificial as Sherman’s prothesis in Untitled #216. Cindy Sherman replaced the very well-fed cherubs in the background of the original with a draped lace cloth depicting baby angels.

By using a fake breast to reference an art historical painting, Sherman criticizes the fetishization of the female body and parodies stereotypes such as mother, virgin, and sexual object. In addition to using a fake breast and the obvious application of make-up, she also chose to use a plastic-looking crown. These cheap props mock traditional art historical depictions and emphasize their role in the construction of an idealized female image: motherly but pure, appealing to the male gaze, and simultaneously noble.

The dress that Sherman is wearing in the photo belonged to a woman from the famous Borghese family. While making the "History Portraits" Sherman spent some time in Rome. She stayed in a studio and borrowed the dress from her landlord to create this bizarre artwork.