What was the inspiration for Cindy Sherman’s Untitled film?

Cindy Sherman drew inspiration from various films, directors, and actresses spanning the 1950s to the 1970s for her “Untitled Film Stills” series. Among the influences, she acknowledged Chris Marker’s “La Jetée” (1962).

Marker’s film, primarily composed of static shots, tells its narrative through still images, with a solitary moving shot featuring a woman opening her eyes. Enthralled by the storytelling achieved through these static images, Sherman later crafted her own sequence of stills in “Untitled Film Stills”.

The intention behind Sherman’s photographs in this series was not to create a linear narrative; rather, each image aimed to evoke the ambiance of a distinct film, encouraging viewers to envision the possible stories behind each still.

Despite Sherman portraying all the characters in “Untitled Film Stills,” the series is not meant to be construed as a linear self-portrait. Sherman asserts that the photographs are purely fictional, emphasizing their detachment from autobiography and their roots in cinematic inspiration.

Cindy Sherman’s first solo exhibitions in France were presented by Galerie Chantal Crousel in Paris. In 2009, Sherman was featured in the influential exhibition “The Pictures Generation, 1974–1984” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.