Auction: Fine Photographs at Swann Auction Galleries
Edward Weston, Shell, silver print, 1927, printed circa 1970. Estimate $6,000 to $9,000.
By Sara Beck
A driving force in auctioneering since 1941, Swann Auction Galleries will host an auction of fine art photographs on October 22nd at 12 P.M.
The auction includes work by famed portfolios from the estate of Evelyne Daitz, a dedicated gallerist who worked closely with Lee Witkin, and whose collection features iconic names such as Edward Weston, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, and Barbara Kasten.
Edward Weston, who in part became known for his distinctly Californian photographic style, is widely regarded as one of America’s most influential artists. With fresh and innovative employment of form, lighting, and composition, Weston created strikingly ambiguous images which featured what might have otherwise been considered mundane subject matter.
It is only fitting that the auction, which will take place in Manhattan at 104 East 25th Street, will also offer photographs of New York City which capture the inspiration and sense of possibility that shaped the work of Margaret Bourke-White, Helen Levitt, and so many other great artists.
Helen Levitt, N.Y. (Boys in Tree), silver print, circa 1945, printed 1970s. Estimate $3,000 to $4,500.
Today, the mention of Levitt’s name immediately conjures up scenes of New York City streets. Her photographs are adored by the masses because of their tenderness and poeticism. Often focusing the camera on children, Levitt was a master of conveying both the playfulness and drama of everyday life in the city.
In addition to these two groupings of photographs, a must-see collection of celebrity portraits awaits bidders, the highlight among them being Yousuf Karsh’s portfolio Karsh - Fifteen Portraits, complete with his most famous images of Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill.
Yousuf Karsh, Karsh—Fifteen Portraits, complete portfolio with 15 oversized silver prints, 1941-70, printed 1983. Estimate $40,000 to $60,000.
Karsh’s use of bold studio lighting lends an almost theatrical air to his portraits—with this, he monumentalizes his subjects in his closely-cropped photographs. His Fifteen Portraits portfolio contains breathtaking images of Albert Einstein, Georgia O’Keeffe, Muhammed Ali and others who have altered the course of world history.
Featured works range from the classical to the avante-garde, and cover a broad spectrum of subject matter. With over three hundred pieces being shown, all of which can be previewed on the Swann Galleries website, this upcoming auction of pivotal vintage photographs is sure to contain something for every attendee.
Following safety protocol due to COVID-19, the auction will be held remotely. During a live session, which will be accessible through the Swann Galleries App or online at live.swanngalleries.com, buyers will be able to bid and interact despite not physically being in the room with the auctioneers. Phone bidding, although limited, will also be available to those who register before 4 P.M. on October 21st. And in-person viewings of the works are possible through the advance scheduling of private appointments by contacting Deborah Rogal, the director of photographs and photobooks at Swann, via email at drogal@swanngalleries.com.
