Simpson’s faceless portraits undermine traditional notions of portraiture. They also raise questions about gender: the work’s title and the plaque above the photographs may declare the subject is “female,” but the tailored suit, hand gestures, and body language may suggest the opposite. Together, these details confront how easily one might define identity, race, or sexual orientation through stereotypical notions. In this instance, do we place more trust in the word or the image?

---