This volume presents extensive groups of works from nearly all of Cindy Sherman's creative phases. The principle theme in Sherman's oeuvre is the staging of female role models. The American artist relies on stereotypes inscribed on our collective visual memory in a world saturated with media. In this roleplay with costumes, masks and prostheses, during which her own identity almost completely disappears, Sherman (born 1954) walks a fine line between staging and parody in her scrutiny of cliches and fears. The artist became well known for her multipart photo series Untitled Film Stills (1977-80), in which she embodies female characters from fictitious movie scenes from the 1950s. Her artistic principle has essentially not changed much since. In her later series with large-format color photographs, Sherman takes up such themes as fashion photography, fairytale figures, horror scenes and high-society ladies.
