Seydou Keita’s portraits are particularly effective in that they portray the subject in an elegant and accurate way. Rather than posing his subjects in a particular fashion in order to make them look a certain way, he allows them to choose how they want to be seen in order to maintain a level of realism and individuality in their portraits. In many of his pieces there is a backdrop of a patterned fabric, indicating a set up in a studio, however the portraits still maintain natural qualities, rather than looking planned and posed.
In this particular piece, the woman is posed, however she looks into the distance and has a relaxed face, making the photograph look effortless and natural. She looks comfortable yet still very serious. The three different patterns of the fabrics used also add to the composition, creating an very interesting separation of the subject and the background.
Seydou Keita, Untitled, 1957-57, gelatin silver print. Printed 2000, 120x180cm
