From Penn’s celebrated imagery to rare works fresh to market, the sale showcases the breadth and power of photographic expression. Online | 3 – 17 April
Christie’s is presenting Photographs, an online auction taking place from 3 –17 April, featuring more than 300 engaging and significant works spanning the 20th and 21st centuries. The sale features a strong selection of vintage and modernist works from the first half of the 20th century alongside post‑war and contemporary photographs by Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, Helmut Newton, Andy Warhol, Nan Goldin, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Sally Mann, Andreas Gursky, and many others.
Rebecca Jones, Christie’s Head of Photographs, New York, comments: “In addition to the wonderful early Modernist works we have gathered, this season we are also proud to present a significant group of Irving Penn works, with several images that have never been offered at auction before. Penn remains one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, celebrated for his striking still lifes, vivid dye‑transfer prints, iconic fashion imagery, and sensitive portraits from around the world. His market continues to show remarkable strength. By offering both his most recognizable images and rarer discoveries, we expect strong enthusiasm for this exceptional group of Penn photographs.”
The auction is led by Irving Penn’s iconic Ginkgo Leaves, New York, 1990, a dye‑transfer print estimated at $250,000–350,000. This substantial grouping of works by Penn, ranging from some of his most celebrated images, such as Girl Behind Bottle Jean Patchett, New York (estimate: $100,000–150,000) to compelling portraits of 20th‑century artists and cultural figures, is a rare chance to see many of his works at once, several of which are appearing at auction for the first time.
The selection includes portraits of Pablo Picasso, Isamu Noguchi, Joan Didion, and Salvador Dalí, among others. Works fresh to the market include Isamu Noguchi, New York (1947) (estimate: $8,000–12,000); Henry Moore, Much Hadham(1962) (estimate: $8,000–12,000); Jasper Johns, New York (1983) (estimate: $8,000–12,000); Willem de Kooning, Long Island, New York (1983) (estimate: $8,000–12,000); and Fernando Botero, New York (1985) (estimate: $8,000–12,000). Irving Penn remains one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, celebrated for his striking still lifes, richly saturated dye‑transfer prints, iconic fashion imagery for Condé Nast, and sensitive portraits of people and cultures around the world.
Additional highlights featured in the sale include two striking portraits of Georgia O’Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz (estimates $250,000-350,000 and $60,000-80,000), a unique photogram by László Moholy‑Nagy from 1929 (estimate: $80,000–120,000), alongside important works including Paul Strand’s Rebecca, 1930 (estimate: $150,000–200,000), a thrilling selection of early Sally Mann 8×10 inch contact prints, and Francesca Woodman’s House #3, Providence, Rhode Island (estimate: $40,000–60,000).
Sale Highlights
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PROPRIETY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
PAUL STRAND (1890-1976) Rebecca, 1930 platinum print, flush-mounted on photographic paper image: 9¾ x 7¾ in. (24.8 x 19.7 cm.) sheet/flush mount: 10 x 8⅛ in. (25.4 x 20.6 cm.) Estimate: $150,000-200,000 |
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM AN IMPORTANT JAPANESE COLLECTION
IRVING PENN (1917–2009) |
PROPRIETY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION ALFRED STIEGLITZ (1864–1946)
Portrait of Georgia, No.1, 1923 gelatin silver contact print, flush–mounted on card, mounted on larger card image/sheet/flush mount: 4⅝ x 3⅝ (11.8 x 9.2 cm.) secondary mount: 13⅜ x 10¼ in. (34 x 26 cm.) Estimate: $60,000-80,000 |
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PHOTOGRAPHS FROM AN IMPORTANT JAPANESE COLLECTION
LÁSZLÓ MOHOLY–NAGY (1895–1946) Untitled, 1929 unique gelatin silver print image/sheet: 11⅝ x 9⅜ in. (29.5 x 23.8 cm.) mount: 18⅛ x 15⅛ in. (46 x 38.4 cm.) Estimate: $80,000-120,000 |
FRANCESCA WOODMAN (1958-1981)
House #3, Providence, Rhode Island, 1975–76 gelatin silver print image: 6¼ x 6¼ in. (15.9 x 15.9 cm.) sheet: 10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.3 cm.) Estimate: $40,000-60,000 |
A DISTINGUED MIDWESTERN COLLECTION
SALLY MANN (B. 1951)
Sunflower Seeds, 1991 gelatin silver print image: 7⅝ x 9¾ in. (19.4 x 24.8 cm.) sheet: 7⅞ x 9⅞ in. (20 x 25.1 cm.) This work is number four from an edition of twenty-five Estimate: $5,000-7,000 |
