Nan Goldin

Lynelle on my bed, New York

1985

Lynelle on my bed, NYC, 1985

Lynelle on my bed, New York by Nan Goldin is an intimate portrayal that epitomizes the artist’s exploration of personal and emotional landscapes. The photograph features Lynelle reclining on a bed, bathed in the soft, ambient light that filters through the room. Goldin’s composition captures the vulnerability and quiet strength of her subject, with Lynelle’s contemplative expression suggesting a deep inner world. The cluttered, yet cozy environment of the room, marked by personal belongings and the unmade bed, enhances the authenticity and rawness of the scene. Goldin’s use of color and light creates a warm, almost nostalgic atmosphere, drawing viewers into the private, introspective moment. This artwork is not merely a portrait but a narrative of identity, intimacy, and the complexity of human relationships. Through this photograph, Goldin offers a poignant commentary on the nuances of personal experience and the intersection of the individual with their surroundings.

Nan Goldin is best known for her seminal photographic series The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, a slideshow of hundreds of photographs from her life in New York City in the late 70s and 80s. An exception to the very technical, male dominated black-and-white photography of those times, Goldin’s images intimately capture her life, the lives of those beside her, and the grit and truth of bohemian life in America—especially the hard-drug scene and gay and drag subculture of the Bowery neighbourhood where her youth unfolded. Originally put together to entertain her friends (many of which are portrayed in the series), the slideshow was first shown to audiences in the Whitney in 1985 paired with music by artists such as Velvet Underground, James Brown and Nina Simone among others. The immediacy and candid nature of her images allowed audiences to witness the stories of the sex, laughter, loss and longing and while at the same time raising awareness about important issues, especially the HIV crisis and opioid epidemic that devastated her community. Her unique perspective radically altered the course of photography, making her one of the most influential photographers of the 20th Century.

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Nan Goldin Lynelle on my bed, New York

Nan Goldin

Lynelle on my bed, New York