“Long before I picked up a camera I was deeply concerned with the ways in which ¬African-Americans were depicted, and, for the most part, I didn’t like what I saw. So one way of dealing with it was to step in and rethink how black women, more specifically, need to be represented.” Carrie Mae Weems

Carrie Mae Weems’ acclaimed Kitchen Table Series depicts the life stages and relationships of a female protagonist, played by Weems herself. In these constructed tableaux vivants, Weems uses the table as the anchor for her heroine’s life story; the site at which she embraces her partner, engages with her daughter or sits alone in contemplation. In the present lot, Weems’ character is seated alongside a male counterpart, the scene imbued with the weight and complexity of their relationship as they eye each other over their card game. By embracing the role of both sitter and photographer, Weems powerfully embodies the nuanced representation of African-American women that she found lacking in the public discourse.