Lorna Simpson's *Backdrops circa 1940s* (1998) is a two-panel serigraph that draws on the visual language of mid-20th century photographic studio backdrops to explore themes of identity, race, and the constructed nature of representation. The work reflects Simpson's signature conceptual approach, layering historical imagery with contemporary critique to examine how Black identity has been framed and commodified through visual culture. Published as an artist's proof in an edition of 35, co-published by Karen McCready and Noblet Sérigraphie in New York, the work stands as a refined example of Simpson's engagement with printmaking as a medium for social and political inquiry.