Josef Sudek

pigment print, on a double mount, signed in pencil on the mount, number '02' in pencil on the reverse, circa 1920

This luminous small, early pigment presentation print, mounted to beige vellum and mounted again to a taupe paper presentation mount, is in generally excellent condition. There appears to be slight fading of the underlying mount at the upper left corner. On the reverse of the mount, there is a thin, vertical brown paper remnant along the right side. Sudek made a series of presentation prints, primarily from 1918-1923, of roofs and of Prague and Elbe landscapes. These were on mounts and signed with the stylized signature of the present print. His signature later changed over time. During these early years, he made small prints in pigment (carbon), as well as on toned bromide papers. Sotheby's wishes to thank Maia Sutnik, Curator of Photography at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Vladimir Birgis, for their assistance in dating this print.
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