X Portfolio / Robert Mapplethorpe, 1980

Description

X Portfolio

X Portfolio is a 1980 limited-edition photographic book by American artist Robert Mapplethorpe. The portfolio consists of thirteen black-and-white photographs exploring explicit homoerotic and sadomasochistic themes. It is one of three series—alongside Y Portfolio (portraits) and Z Portfolio (flowers)—that together define Mapplethorpe’s mature work and his formal approach to beauty and sexuality.

Key facts

• Artist: Robert Mapplethorpe

• Publication year: 1980

• Format: 13 gelatin silver prints

• Edition: Limited to 25 sets

• Themes: Homoeroticism, S&M aesthetics, body form

Background and context

Mapplethorpe created X Portfolio during a period of deep engagement with New York’s underground leather subculture. Produced at the start of the 1980s, it represents his interest in classical composition applied to taboo subjects. The works are meticulously staged, emphasizing symmetry, texture, and the sculptural qualities of the human body.

Artistic significance

Together with Y and Z Portfolios, X Portfolio articulated Mapplethorpe’s trilogy of form: sexual expression (X), identity (Y), and nature (Z). Its precision lighting and formal rigor linked explicit content with fine-art traditions, challenging distinctions between pornography and art photography.

Controversy and legacy

The portfolio became a focal point in late-1980s debates over public funding and censorship in the arts, especially during the uproar surrounding the 1989 retrospective The Perfect Moment. Critics argued over the boundaries of artistic freedom and decency, while supporters hailed it as a landmark in queer visual culture. Today, X Portfolio is recognized as a pivotal body of work in late-20th-century photography and a cornerstone of Mapplethorpe’s legacy.