Untitled (1990s)

Name/Title

Untitled (1990s)

Entry/Object ID

2024.11.01

Description

This photograph features a woman wearing a Bethlehem thobe (dress), a Bedouin coined headdress, and an obscure shawl that cannot be attributed to a specific region. The man is dressed in a traditional Palestinian men's ensemble, both of which are reminiscent of early twentieth-century Palestinian styles. Some records identify this photograph as "Folk Dancers from Bethlehem," though the title remains uncertain. This photograph is experimental within Bandak's body of work. She more often created portraits of women in traditional dress set against landscapes and natural surroundings that echoed the flora and embroidered motifs of the garments themselves. Even while living in exile, Bandak remained committed to celebrating the beauty of Palestinian culture. In this image, the ghostly figures of the folk dancers are superimposed onto the landscape, creating an ethereal composition that invites questions. Who, or what, are they looking toward? Or perhaps they are gazing toward the future. Authored by Wafa Ghnaim

Photograph Details

Collection

Permanent Collection

Cataloged By

Wafa Ghnaim

Category

Photographs

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Lily Bandak

Role

Photographer

Date made

circa 1990

Place

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Makers Mark

Location

Bottom right corner

Transcription

Signature of Lily Bandak

Relationships

Related Places

Notes

type: travel date: 1995-2010 certainty: precise notes: Lily had a darkroom in her home in Delaware, and this photograph was likely printed at that time.

Notes

type: travel date: 2024 certainty: precise notes: The photograph was donated to the Museum of the Palestinian People.

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Gift of the Bandak family

Reproductions

Notes

This is an authentic reproduction, mounted and signed by Lily Bandak.