Brassaï (Gyula Halász)

ferrotyped, titled by the photographer in ink, his '81 Rue du Faub. St.-Jacques, Paris XIV' studio stamp, a Modern Photography stamp and with annotations and printing notations in various unidentified hands in pencil, crayon, and ink, on the reverse, matted, circa 1932 (Secret Paris of the Thirties, unpaginated; Brassaï: The Monograph, p. 70; George Eastman House, Taschen, p. 534)

This early, ferrotyped, slightly warm-toned print, on double-weight paper, is in generally good condition. The edges are rubbed, the corners bumped and slightly creased, and there are small nicks and emulsion losses at the upper and lower edges of the print. In raking light, deposits of what appear to be original retouching or in-painting are visible, particularly at the left edge. At the left and lower edges in the dark areas, the usually glossy ferrotyping is somewhat dull. Also visible in raking light are light scuffs (the most notable in the area at the bottom of the woman's skirt where it meets her legs), light scratches, and small handling creases and indentations that do not break the emulsion. These are not generally visible when viewing the photograph at a normal distance. When examined with a black light, this print does not appear to fluoresce.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.