Chessmen XXIV - Erwin Olaf

A striking black and white photograph from Erwin Olaf's 1988 Chessmen series, featuring a figure in a theatrical, antlered headpiece and metallic costume.

Chessmen XXIV is a photograph from the 1988 series by Dutch artist Erwin Olaf. This body of work explores the human form through a lens of theatricality and artifice. Olaf constructs a scene that defies conventional portraiture, opting instead for a staged, sculptural approach to the body. The subject is positioned in a challenging, athletic pose upon a simple wooden bench, bearing a heavy, boulder-like object strapped to their back with rope. The figure wears a headpiece adorned with antlers, which creates a silhouette reminiscent of mythological or zoomorphic entities. Metallic leg coverings and high-heeled footwear introduce an element of fashion-forward subversion, contrasting with the raw, organic texture of the antlers and the stone. The lighting is controlled and dramatic, typical of Olaf's studio practice, which relies on high-contrast monochrome tones to define the musculature and the textures of the various materials. Olaf often utilised his work to examine social norms, gender identity, and the boundaries of the body. In this series, the title suggests a game of strategy or a rigid hierarchy, yet the visual content presents a figure burdened by weight and constrained by costume. The composition is balanced, with the extended leg providing a counterweight to the heavy object on the back. The background is a mottled, neutral grey, which keeps the focus entirely on the figure. This print offers a clear example of Olaf's ability to blend commercial aesthetics with fine art concepts, resulting in a stark, memorable image that invites observation of the human condition through a highly stylised, constructed reality.