The series included of a ten-year-old, alongside other photographs in which Shields wears lingerie or other suggestive clothing. The clothed images were meant to contrast the world of “child” with the world of “woman,” showing how the same girl could appear entirely different depending on styling and context.
Garry Gross was an American photographer known for his bold, innovative, and often provocative style. One of his most iconic and thought-provoking bodies of work is "The Woman in the Child Full," a series of photographs that explore the complex and multifaceted relationships between mothers and daughters. In this article, we'll delve into Gross's life, his photographic style, and the significance of "The Woman in the Child Full" in the context of contemporary photography. garry gross the woman in the child full
and became the centre of a decade-long legal and ethical battle. The Vision and the Shoot The series included of a ten-year-old, alongside other
: Gross stated he wanted to capture the "flirtatiousness" and "coquettishness" he observed in young girls. Compensation One of his most iconic and thought-provoking bodies
Prince re-photographed one of Gross's most striking images of Brooke Shields—the almost-full-frontal view of her posed in the bathtub—and presented it as his own work, giving it the title . The title was itself an appropriation, taken from a famous 1923 photograph by Alfred Stieglitz depicting the rear flank of a gelded horse. By giving his piece this name, Prince created a powerful, ironic, and deeply unsettling commentary on the sexualization of the child-woman in American culture.
The resulting legal battle became a landmark case at the intersection of contract law, child exploitation, and artistic freedom. In a narrow 4-3 decision, New York State's highest court ruled that Shields could not break the contract her mother had signed. The majority opinion, delivered by Judge Edward Greenfield, argued that Gross was not a pornographer but "a photographer of extraordinary talent," a sentiment that drew sharp criticism. However, the court placed a key restriction on Gross: he was permitted to continue marketing the photos, but . In a dissenting opinion, Judge Matthew J. Jasen summed up the tragedy of the case, writing, "I see no reason why the child must continue to bear the burden imposed by her mother's bad judgment."