@article{ART003351141},
author={Park, Jooseong},
title={Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification},
journal={Journal of History of Modern Art},
issn={1598-7728},
year={2026},
number={59},
pages={277-297}
TY - JOUR
AU - Park, Jooseong
TI - Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification
JO - Journal of History of Modern Art
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 59
PB - 현대미술사학회
SP - 277
EP - 297
SN - 1598-7728
AB - This study analyzes two “one-inch portrait” works 598/Variable Piece #70: 1971 and 300/Variable Piece #70: 1971 that belong to Douglas Huebler’s Variable Piece #70 in the context of their relationship to modern photographic identification systems. Based on Alphonse Bertillon’s identification system and Allan Sekula's discourse on the photographic archive, this paper examines how Huebler’s one-inch portrait works mimic and disrupt the structure and operation of identification systems. The two works, composed of a large number of one-inch-sized portrait photographs, prompt the viewer to perform classification and identification; however, this process is structurally hindered. While 598/Variable Piece #70 sought to recover the individuality of the photographic portrait through standardization, the removal of context during the standardization process causes the portraits to lose their individuality and lapse into anonymous images. Furthermore, although the work requires the viewer to classify individuals based on metaphorical aphorisms, these subjective criteria reduce the classification process to a physiognomic level, and ultimately lead to failure. 300/Variable Piece #70 combines an FBI wanted poster with one hundred one-inch portraits and casts the viewer as a criminal investigator and an archival clerk tasked with identifying the fugitive in the poster. However, the possibility of aging and disguise, coupled with an excess of images, makes identification structurally impossible. These two works hold significance as unique critical projects that expose the vulnerabilities of identification systems by inducing the structural failure of the viewer’s cognitive performance.
KW - Douglas Huebler;1-inch portrait;Identification;Variable Piece;Alphonse Bertillon
DO -
UR -
ER -
Park, Jooseong. (2026). Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification. Journal of History of Modern Art, 59, 277-297.
Park, Jooseong. 2026, "Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification", Journal of History of Modern Art, no.59, pp.277-297.
Park, Jooseong "Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification" Journal of History of Modern Art 59 pp.277-297 (2026) : 277.
Park, Jooseong. Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification. 2026; 59 : 277-297.
Park, Jooseong. "Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification" Journal of History of Modern Art no.59(2026) : 277-297.
Park, Jooseong. Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification. Journal of History of Modern Art, 59, 277-297.
Park, Jooseong. Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification. Journal of History of Modern Art. 2026; 59 277-297.
Park, Jooseong. Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification. 2026; 59 : 277-297.
Park, Jooseong. "Douglas Huebler’s 1-Inch Portraits and the Failure of Identification" Journal of History of Modern Art no.59(2026) : 277-297.
