Sally Mann’s At Twelve: Between Innocence and Knowing by Brian Byrd

Brian Byrd is a freelance photographer with more than two decades of experience advancing communication as a catalyst for social change. He serves on the board of directors for the Overseas Press Club of America and the advisory board for WITNESS, a global NGO founded by musician Peter Gabriel that uses video and digital technology to document human rights violations.

Sally Mann’s At Twelve

In the luminous halls of Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta, a remarkable treasure has emerged from the archives of one of America's most penetrating photographic voices. Long renowned for her evocative work exploring themes of family, identity, and the American South, Sally Mann has unearthed previously unreleased photographs from her seminal series At Twelve: Portraits of Young Women. Reflecting on this rediscovery, Mann noted with characteristic insight, "One of the advantages of a long life is that you get to go back and revisit parts of your work that were overlooked, sometimes inexplicably, in early years."

These images offer us a fresh glimpse into her masterful exploration of that most delicate of transitions – the threshold between childhood and womanhood. Mann herself described the essence of her subjects perfectly in her original publication: "What knowing watchfulness in the eyes of a twelve-year-old... at once guarded, yet guileless. She is the very picture of contradiction: on the one hand diffident and ambivalent, on the other forthright and impatient; half pertness and half pout. Impossibly, she is both artless and sophisticated, a child and yet a woman."

Spider Plant (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

Crimson and Lithe (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

The portraits were created between 1983 and 1985 in Rockbridge County, Virginia – Mann's birthplace and the wellspring of her creative inspiration, where she continues to live and work today. Using her characteristic 8x10 view camera, Mann created intimate studies of twelve-year-olds that are at once technically precise and emotionally profound. The platinum prints, with their rich tonal range, serve as perfect vessels for conveying the complexities of her subjects.

This exhibition coincides with the recent re-release of Mann's original At Twelve: Portraits of Young Women book, which sold out its initial printing and was republished in fall 2024. What makes this showing truly exceptional is that the thirty different setups on display are exclusive to Jackson Fine Art – images that even dedicated followers of Mann's work have never seen before. Some insiders suggest these newly discovered photographs may be even stronger than those included in the original book, offering a fresh perspective on an already iconic body of work.

Lisa and Jenny on Car (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

Rhonda on Swing with Kittens (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

Robin and Jessie (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

As a fellow photographer, I am always struck by Mann's uncanny ability to elicit trust from her subjects. These aren't mere portraits; they're psychological studies rendered in silver and light. The girls – daughters of friends, relatives, and community members – reveal themselves to Mann's lens with remarkable candor. Each frame captures that precise moment when childhood's unselfconsciousness begins to give way to adult awareness.

Mann's technical mastery is evident throughout these works. Her expert handling of natural light reveals subtle textures, while her meticulously balanced compositions guide the viewer's eye with precision. Her printing technique extracts remarkable tonal depth from each negative, creating images of extraordinary richness. Working with large format photography—a process notorious for its unforgiving nature—requires both precision and artistic intuition. Mann demonstrates both qualities in abundance, producing portraits that are as technically flawless as they are emotionally resonant.

Rebecca and Fig Leaf (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

Nicole with Cat (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

In her introduction for the original At Twelve publication, which was first released by Aperture in 1988, the writer Ann Beattie captured the essence of these subjects' gaze, noting how they "look hard at the camera because they are used to looking hard at people and things." This penetrating observation illuminates the dual nature of Mann's portraits, which reveal both vulnerability and strength in equal measure.

Jennifer with Palomino (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

Ballerinas in the Mirror (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

Jennifer, Mother, and Hair Bow with Bubble (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

There is a profound nostalgic quality to these images that goes beyond mere sentimentality. They capture a time and place that no longer exists – an America of the early 1980s seen through Mann's unflinching yet empathetic lens. The photographer's process of revisiting her archives mirrors our own relationship with the past – finding new meaning and value in what was once overlooked.

Theresa (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

Cindy and Reeses Pieces (At Twelve), 1983-1985 © the artist, Jackson Fine Art and Gagosian

For photographers and art lovers alike, this exhibition offers a chance to see fresh work from one of the medium's most important practitioners. These images remind us that great portraiture is not about capturing mere likeness, but about revealing the complex interior lives of its subjects. In these newly unveiled works, Sally Mann proves once again why she remains one of photography's most insightful and enduring voices – an artist whose humble, approachable nature belies the profound depth of her vision.

At Twelve is at Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta, GA and runs through March 29, 2025. It is Sally Mann's sixth solo show with the gallery.