Striking Embroidered Self-Portraits By Annegret Soltau
- Words
- Charmaine Li
In the series ‘Self 1975-76‘, German artist Annegret Soltau created striking embroidered self-portraits by stitching a thread over images of her own face. It was the first project where Soltau used a needle and thread to draw over a photograph and this style has since become her hallmark. Her imagery, which is both provocative and disturbing, often explores themes related to the self, metamorphosis and the female body. Alongside other artists such as Cindy Sherman and Suzy Lake, Soltau’s work is regarded as a key reference point for feminist art in the 70s and 80s.
+ Read MoreIn an interview about her work, Soltau says, “Above all I am interested in the image of women. What happens to women these days, how do they present themselves? Which compulsions (and liberties) exist for women today?”
All images © Annegret Soltau
