The series contains 3054 Polaroid test shots taken by Robert Mapplethorpe from circa 1979 to 1989. Some of the Polaroids
include annotations on lighting angles, filters, exposure times, and aperture settings. Many relate directly to Mapplethorpe's
editioned prints including, but not limited to: Grace Jones, 1984; Keith Haring, 1984; Gregory Hines, 1985; Lydia Cheng,
1985; Patti Smith, 1986; Ed and Melody, 1988; and Watermelon with Knife, 1985. Also included are three spiral bound notebooks,
dated circa 1975-1988, with Polaroids stapled to the pages accompanied by annotations on lighting angles, filters, exposure
times, and aperture settings.
Series II.D. has been digitized. Digital images are provided for study purposes only. Access to images of works by artists
other than Mapplethorpe is available only to on-site readers and Getty staff.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged according to subject category. Polaroids remain in their original order as designated by Mapplethorpe
or his studio assistants.
Males
915 items
Black male
441 items
box
folder
165
2
Black-and-white
265 items
box
folder
170
2
Color
176 items
White male
474 items
box
folder
167
1
Black-and-white
290 items
box
folder
171
1
Color
184 items
Females
541 items
Black female
54 items
box
folder
165
1
Black-and-white
25 items
box
folder
170
1
Color
29 items
White female
487 items
box
folder
166
1
Black-and-white
325 items
box
folder
170
3
Color
162 items
Couples
123 items
box
folder
167
2
Black-and-white
68 items
box
folder
171
2
Color
55 items
Children
44 items
box
folder
167
3
Black-and-white
37 items
box
folder
170
4
Color
7 items
Fashion
153 items
box
folder
168
3
Black-and-white
97 items
box
folder
172
2
Color and black-and-white
56 items
Still life
640 items
Flowers
445 items
box
folder
168
1
Black-and-white
266 items
box
folder
171
3
Color
179 items
Objects
195 items
box
folder
168
2
Black-and-white
124 items
box
folder
172
1
Color
71 items
4 x 5 Polaroids
239 items
box
folder
168
4
Black-and-white
5 items
box
folder
172
3
Color
127 items
box
folder
173
1
Color
107 items
173
2
Ed and Mel (black-and-white and color)
41 items
Edward Mapplethorpe and Melody Danielson.
173
3
Lisa Lyon (black-and-white and color)
8 items
173
4
Robert (black-and-white and color)
9 items
173
5
Patti Smith (black-and-white and color)
38 items
box
folder
169
1
Miscellaneous (black-and-white and color)
303 items
box
174-176
Spiral notebooks circa 1975-1988
These notebooks contain both color and black-and-white Polaroid test shots of fashion shoots, other sitters, and of Mapplethorpe
himself.
