Ralph Eugene Meatyard: Dolls & Masks
Meatyard’s staged images—set in abandoned spaces and often using masks and props—are at once familiar and enigmatic, reflecting the artist’s fascination with the uncanniness of ordinary life.
![Black and white photograph of a child figure wearing a mask and sitting by a creek with dolls in the water](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/REM-0888b.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, 1962
gelatin silver print, 7 x 7-3/8 inches (image & sheet) [17.8 x 18.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a person wearing a rubber mask seated in a rowboat on the grass holding up another mask](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/REM-0919a-1022x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, 1957-58
gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (mount) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of three children holding baby dolls and a woman holding a mask over her face](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-0457-889x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, 1962
gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a boy in a mask standing under a gall of a tree](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-11122-736x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, ca. 1960
gelatin silver print, 6-3/4 x 5-1/2 inches (sheet) [17.2 x 14.0 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a woman in a mask standing in a doorway with a child in overalls on the lower left](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/7_REM-0772_Meatyard_Untitled_ca1968-69-621x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, ca. 1968-69
gelatin silver print, 6-1/8 x 4-1/4 inches (sheet) [15.6 x 10.8 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a boy seated among felled tree branches containing three masks scattered within them](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/REM-0922c-900x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, 1963
gelatin silver print, 13 x 10 inches (mount) [33.0 x 25.4 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a headless mannequin positioned on the ground next to a small doll hovering above a tray](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-0863-938x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, ca. 1960
gelatin silver print, 7-3/8 x 7-3/4 inches (sheet) [18.6 x 19.7 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of eyeless doll lying on a bed through the metal bedframe](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-1135-911x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, #6 Laughter, ca. 1961
gelatin silver print, 11-1/8 x 9 inches (mount) [28.3 x 24.1 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of an assortment of rubber masks and doll heads positioned on two pedestals in an overgrown garden](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/REM-0208f-927x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Surreal, 1959
gelatin silver print, 7-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches (image) [20.0 x 25.1 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a couple in masks laying on the floor in embrace](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-1123-906x900.jpg)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Untitled, ca. 1968
gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a child figure wearing a mask and sitting by a creek with dolls in the water](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/REM-0888b.jpg?fit=675%2C645&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
1962
gelatin silver print, 7 x 7-3/8 inches (image & sheet) [17.8 x 18.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a person wearing a rubber mask seated in a rowboat on the grass holding up another mask](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/REM-0919a.jpg?fit=675%2C594&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
1957-58
gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (mount) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of three children holding baby dolls and a woman holding a mask over her face](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-0457.jpg?fit=675%2C683&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
1962
gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a boy in a mask standing under a gall of a tree](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-11122.jpg?fit=675%2C825&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
ca. 1960
gelatin silver print, 6-3/4 x 5-1/2 inches (sheet) [17.2 x 14.0 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a woman in a mask standing in a doorway with a child in overalls on the lower left](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/7_REM-0772_Meatyard_Untitled_ca1968-69.jpg?fit=675%2C978&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
ca. 1968-69
gelatin silver print, 6-1/8 x 4-1/4 inches (sheet) [15.6 x 10.8 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a boy seated among felled tree branches containing three masks scattered within them](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/REM-0922c.jpg?fit=675%2C675&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
1963
gelatin silver print, 13 x 10 inches (mount) [33.0 x 25.4 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a headless mannequin positioned on the ground next to a small doll hovering above a tray](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-0863.jpg?fit=675%2C647&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
ca. 1960
gelatin silver print, 7-3/8 x 7-3/4 inches (sheet) [18.6 x 19.7 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of eyeless doll lying on a bed through the metal bedframe](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-1135.jpg?fit=675%2C667&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene Meatyard#6 Laughter
ca. 1961
gelatin silver print, 11-1/8 x 9 inches (mount) [28.3 x 24.1 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of an assortment of rubber masks and doll heads positioned on two pedestals in an overgrown garden](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/REM-0208f.jpg?fit=675%2C655&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardSurreal
1959
gelatin silver print, 7-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches (image) [20.0 x 25.1 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a couple in masks laying on the floor in embrace](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/REM-1123.jpg?fit=675%2C671&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Ralph Eugene MeatyardUntitled
ca. 1968
gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 inches (sheet) [20.3 x 25.4 cm]