BERLIN.-On May 29, 2008, Villa Grisebach will begin this years spring sales with a photography auction that will include approximately 300 classic and contemporary photographs.
A special emphasis has been placed on rare and extraordinary Vintage German photographs from the 20th Century, e.g. a large print by Aenne Biermann titled Anthurie (1927-29) from the Estate of the artist (6,000 8,000 euros), a composition with nude as a light-montage enlarged through silk by Heinz Hajek-Halkes, 1930-36 (4,000 6,000 euros), Edmund Kestings Aschermittwoch 1945 (Ash Wednesday 1945) from the series Totentanz (Dance of Death) (4,000 6,000 euros) or Otto Steinerts Pont Neuf, Paris from 1949 (6,000 8,000 euros).
Further highlights of classic photography are, among others, Martin Munkácsis Leni Riefenstahl beim Skilaufen (Leni Riefenstahl skiing) from 1930-31 (10,000 15,000 euros), Paul Strands St. Hippolyte from 1950 (10,000 15,000 euros), Horst P. Horsts American Nude (8,000 10,000 euros), four Wassertürme (Watertowers) by Bernd and Hilla Becher (8,000 10,000 euros), Behn Shahns A deputy with a gun on his hip during the Sept. 1935 strike in Morgantown, West Virginia (6,000 9,000 euros) or Roman Vishniacs Warsaw from 1937 (6,000 8,000 euros). Many other well known photographers are featured in the sale, like Hans Bellmer, Andreas Feininger, André Kertesz, Albert Renger-Patzsch and August Sander, but interesting discoveries can also be made, e.g. with the portfolio Africa Orientale Italiana by Georg Schultze from 1939 or a portrait of Lilian Seeley (a large waxed gum print) by George H. Seeley (5,000 7,000 euros) from 1910.
Highlights from the Contemporary photography selection are Peter Lindberghs Portfolio from 2001 with 10 Platinum-Palladium-Prints of his most famous images (42,000 48,000 euros), followed by Hiroshi Sugimotos Fagus Shoe Last Factory Walter Gropius (14,000 16,000 euros), William Egglestons Dye Transfer Dust Bells, Green Bureau (12,000 15,000 euros) and Tracey Moffatts Something More #5 (10,000 15,000 euros). Furthermore, outstanding photos are featured by Robert Mapplethorpe, Sarah Moon, Shirin Neshat, Helmut Newton, Bettina Rheims and Jörg Sasse.