LARRY BERCOW Rob and Slimey, 1987

Offset lithograph by Larry Bercow, published and distributed by Image Conscious, San Francisco, 1987.

This humorous and subversive photographic poster by Larry Bercow is a direct spoof of the iconic 1981 photograph of actress Nastassja Kinski wrapped with a serpent, originally photographed by Richard Avedon for Vogue. In Bercow’s reinterpretation, the glamorous and sensual elegance of the original image is intentionally replaced with an ironic, tongue-in-cheek male counterpart titled Rob and Slimey.

The composition recreates the pose and mood of the celebrated Avedon photograph while injecting humor, parody, and camp sensibility into the image. The reclining male figure, accompanied by a large python, transforms the original’s high-fashion eroticism into a playful commentary on celebrity imagery, beauty standards, and the stylized theatrics of fashion photography during the late twentieth century.

Executed with polished studio lighting and a restrained color palette, the poster successfully balances parody with genuine photographic sophistication. The work reflects the visual culture of the 1980s, when poster publishers such as Image Conscious helped popularize edgy, collectible imagery that blended pop culture references, satire, and contemporary photography. Today, the piece stands as both a humorous homage and a cultural time capsule from the pre-digital poster era.

Published and distributed by Image Conscious, San Francisco, in 1987.

Condition note: denting visible throughout the entire poster.

A clever and collectible photographic poster that will appeal to collectors interested in parody art, 1980s visual culture, fashion photography references, LGBTQ-themed imagery, and pop-cultural reinterpretations of iconic photographs.

Framing available upon request.