IDNO

DG.167340.RPT

Description

A self portrait of Axel Poignant, aged sixteen and dressed in a sea cadet's uniform, boxing with himself in front of a backdrop.
The portrait was Axel's experimentation with double-exposure, and used as a self-reflection of his inner battles. [JD 08/08/2023]

Place

Europe; Sweden

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Axel Poignant

Photographer

Poignant, Axel [with assistance]

Collector / Expedition

Date

1922

Collection Name

Poignant Collection

Source

Poignant, Roslyn

Format

Digital File

Primary Documentation

Other Information

DG.167113.RPT - DG.167351.RPT were located on a blue 'Seagate backup plus' hard drive in a box now numbered C1035/.

DG.167295.RPT - DG.167351.RPT were located in a digital folder named "Scans to be filed."

Related image: A related image is in the care of the National Library of Australia with the number 4402353 and the following information: "Self-portrait, aged sixteen, Sweden, 1922 [picture] / Axel Poignant.
Printer: (1981 printing).
Description: 1922, 1 photograph : selenium toned, b&w ; image 13 x 10.2 cm., on sheet 19.6 x 14.2 cm.
Series: Poignant, Axel, 1906-1986 Axel Poignant's exhibition photographs, 1922-1980
Notes: Title devised by cataloguer based on inscription.
Part of the collection: Axel Poignant's exhibition photographs, 1922-1980.
Inscriptions: Signed and dated 1981 in pencil lower right; "Self-portrait, aged sixteen, Sweden, 1922 c. 1980, 1 RRW Selenium toned 1-15 10 min"--In pencil on verso; Photographers stamp on verso.
Source of Acquisition: Purchased from Dr. Roslyn Poignant, 2008." [source: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/4402353 KK 08/08/2023]

Related Archive: Roslyn Poignant keep a portrait of Axel boxing, his mother, which she discussed in an interview Martin Thomas: "One of Axel’s first photographs, used as the opening shot in his 1982 retrospective, was of him boxing himself (taken with help, of course).
He had written to Kodak asking about lighting and they had written back explaining use of the magnesium flash.
He documented life as soon as he had a camera. Used it for purposes of reflection from the beginning." (Interview transcriptions by Martin Thomas 30/09/2004). [JD 23/08/2023]