About the artwork
This work depicts a man in a suit executing a sudden, expressive movement, frozen in a posture somewhere between dancing and falling. The contrast between the model's dynamic posture and the static environment creates a strong visual tension. This image is part of Robert Longo's celebrated Men in the Cities series, begun in the late 1970s. In this series, Robert Longo captures figures in full contortion, as if suspended in a moment of imbalance, often inspired by violent or choreographic gestures. These images evoke alienation, exhaustion and the social pressure of contemporary urban environments. The artist seeks to represent bodies that seem at the mercy of an invisible force, a reflection of the tensions and contradictions of the modern world.
Expert opinion
This work is typical of Robert Longo's iconic Men in the Cities series.
About the artist
Born in Brooklyn in 1953, Robert Longo is a versatile artist practicing painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and video. He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence and then at Buffalo State College, where he obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1975. Longo came to prominence in the 1980s with his iconic Men in the Cities series, charcoal drawings of men and women in motion, often oversized and realistically precise, capturing a kind of dramatic instability. His artistic practice explores a variety of themes, from social issues to environmental concerns, using striking contrasts between light and dark. Longo is also renowned for his video and film work, having directed the film Johnny Mnemonic (1995) and music videos for bands such as R.E.M. and New Order. His work has been exhibited in prestigious museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), the Tate Modern (London), and the Centre Pompidou (Paris). He has also participated in the Venice Biennale (1993) and Documenta (1982, 1987). Robert Longo has been honored with several awards, including the Goslar Kaiser Ring in 2005, for his outstanding contributions to contemporary art.
Additional info
Framed
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