Not Manet's Type

STANDING ON SHAKEY GROUND
I POSED MYSELF FOR CRITICAL STUDY
BUT WAS NO LONGER CERTAIN
OF THE QUESTIONS TO ASK

"Not Manet's Type," a 1997 series by Carrie Mae Weems (previously here), is poetic and jaunting in both imagery and use of the written word. I can offer no proper description, as it seems Weems' work is far more effective when viewers discern a response of their own. 

IT WAS CLEAR I WAS NOT MANET'S TYPE
PICASSO - WHO HAD A WAY WITH WOMEN -
ONLY USED ME & DUCHAMP NEVER
EVEN CONSIDERED ME

BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE
IMAGINE MY FATE HAD
DE KOONING GOTTEN
HOLD OF ME

I KNEW, NOT FROM MEMORY,
BUT FROM HOPE, THAT THERE WERE OTHER
MODELS BY WHICH TO LIVE

I TOOK A TIP FROM FRIDA
WHO FROM HER BED PAINTED INCESSANTLY - BEAUTIFULLY
WHILE DIEGO SCALED THE SCAFFOLDS
TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD

∆ Image credit: Carrie Mae Weems (represented by Jack Shainman Gallery)