NEW YORK, NY.- Sothebys fall auction of Photographs on 7 October in New York will offer a variety of exceptional works from the 19th to the 21st centuries. Of special note are masterpieces of 20th-century photography by Alfred Stieglitz, Diane Arbus, Tina Modotti, and Hiroshi Sugimoto, among many others. This carefully selected offering illustrates the expressive breadth of the medium and will feature over 200 works with estimates ranging from $5,000 to $350,000. The New York exhibition will be open to the public from 3 to 6 October.
Sothebys catalogue cover features an early print of Diane Arbuss National Junior Interstate Dance Champions (est. $250/350,000). Given by the photographer to the present owner in 1967, this signed and personally-inscribed print of National Junior Interstate Ballroom Dance Champions is one of only a few extant lifetime prints of the image. Among other post-war photographs in the auction is an early exhibition print of Robert Franks Untitled (Chicago Loop) (est. $30/50,000), which was a gift of the photographer to Robert Delpire, the influential French publisher responsible for the first edition of The Americans. Also featured is an early print of Robert Adamss Colorado (est. $12/18,000), and a strong selection of four lifetime Francesca Woodman photographs, with estimates from $12/18,000 to $25/35,000.
An exemplary, early print of Alfred Stieglitzs portrait of Georgia OKeeffe (est. $100/200,000) is one of only a few of the photographers many images of her to show the painter at work. This print was given by OKeeffe to her sister, the well-known collector and socialite Anita OKeeffe Young, and has remained in private hands until its sale this October. Another photograph by Stieglitz is November Days (est. $70/100,000), an image that dates to the early years of the photographers career and is offered here as a fully signed and dated platinum print.
Modernism is well-represented by László Moholy-Nagys dynamic Photogram (est. $150/250,000), a large-format print made around 1929 and one of only a handful of prints of this image extant. Tina Modottis Campesinos Reading El Machete (est. $200/300,000) and Geranio (est. $70/100,000) showcase the photographers ability to balance both political and artistic concerns. Photographs by Hans Bellmer, Erwin Blumenfeld, Bill Brandt, and Brassaï are also featured.
Among the contemporary highlights is conceptual photographer Hiroshi Sugimotos sublime triptych Baltic Sea, Rugen (est. $100/200,000), one of only two triptychs of these images assembled by the photographer. Sothebys is pleased to present Sally Manns unique triptych Untitled (Self-Portraits) (est. $40/60,000), the first ambrotypes by the photographer to appear at auction. Several photographs from Manns Deep South and Immediate Family series will also be on offer.
Other significant contemporary offerings include Gregory Crewdsons Untitled (The Fort), from Beneath the Roses (est. $30/50,000), Robert Heineckens Security Officer #1 (est. $15/25,000), and photographs by Marina Abramovic, Richard Misrach, James Casebere, and Bettina Rheims.