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Artist
Annie Leibovitz, born 2 Oct 1949
Sitter
Serena Williams, born 26 Sep 1981
Venus Williams, born 17 Jun 1980
Date
1998 (printed 2011)
Type
Photograph
Medium
Pigment print
Dimensions
Image: 38.5 x 47.2 cm (15 3/16 x 18 9/16")
Sheet: 41 x 50.9 cm (16 1/8 x 20 1/16")
Mat: 55.9 × 71.1 cm (22 × 28")
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Annie Leibovitz
For the past decade, the Williams sisters have been dominant figures in professional tennis. Serena Williams has been ranked number one in singles on six separate occasions, the first time in July 2002. As of spring 2013, she has won thirty-one Grand Slam titles, including thirteen doubles championships with her sister Venus, and four Olympic gold medals. Venus Williams has been ranked number one on three separate occasions, the first in February 2002. She has won twenty-two Grand Slam titles and has won forty-four career singles titles, including five Wimbledon titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Annie Leibovitz’s double portrait of the sisters in 1998 was taken just before each broke through as a Grand Slam singles champion. The following year Serena would win her first U.S. Open, and two years later Venus would take her first win at Wimbledon in women’s singles.
