Skip to main content

Plan du Nord, Haiti

1987
Stuart Rome (American, born 1953)
Preindustrial rituals that are still in practice today captivate Philadelphia-based photographer Rome. In 1987 he traveled to Haiti in order to photograph trance, an altered state of consciousness associated with religious ritual. Invited to a ceremony honoring Ogun, the Haitian deity of fire and hunting, Rome was mindful of his presence as an outsider, first observing the event without using his camera. Soon enthralled with the intensity of the happening, Rome began to photograph, becoming a spectacle in his own right. The woman depicted here slips into trance and beckons Rome to dance. The crowd encircles them, and the act of photography becomes an integral part of the ceremony rather than an intrusion.

Object Details

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.