The Bat
Photography

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The Bat
Artwork Details
Artist/Maker
Clarence John Laughlin
American, 1905–1985
American, 1905–1985
Date
1940
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Accession #
1981.93
Dimensions
Please contact the Museum for more information.
Location
Currently Not on View
Description
The Bat was modeled by Laughlin’s wife, Elizabeth Heintzen, posing in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. Heintzen stands as the mysterious central figure within the catacombs, draped all in black. Her head is hidden as she clings to the cracks in the walls at her sides. Laughlin described the symbols behind this piece: “In the abbey of make-believe, the image of hypocrisy appropriately appears concealing its head as with those who hypocritically hide their heads from the facts they don’t want to acknowledge.”
Credit
Gift of Lucinda W. Bunnen for the Bunnen CollectionImage Copyright
(c) The Historic New Orleans Collection