The artwork titled “Untitled (Glass on Body Imprints), ‘Face'” created in 1972 by artist Ana Mendieta belongs to the Feminist Art and Performance Art movements. It is both a photographic work and a performance piece, part of the “Glass on Body Imprints” series. Mendieta’s work is known for exploring themes such as the body, identity, and femininity, often through performative means.
The artwork presented is composed of several framed photographs arranged together. Each photograph portrays a woman from the shoulders up, manipulating her face with a pane of glass. The glass distorts her features, creating unusual expressions that challenge conventional ideals of beauty and femininity. The performance aspect of the piece is embodied by the act of pressing the glass against her face, which leaves temporary imprints, drawing attention to the malleability and resilience of the human body. Mendieta’s work often raises questions about the relationship between the body and external forces, both physical and societal.
