André Kertész

Executed in 1929, printed in 1970.

Lee Witkin's Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner 

Art et Médecine, October 1931, frontispiece
Pierre Mac-Orlan, Paris vu par André Kertész, Librairie Plon, Paris, 1934, n.p.
Nicolas Ducrot, J'aime Paris, Chêne, Vanves Cedex, 1974, p. 207
Nicolas Ducrot, André Kertész: Sixty Years of Photography, Penguin Books, London, 1978, p. 137
Jane Corkin, André Kertész: A Lifetime of Perception, H.N. Abrams, New York, 1982, p. 71
Sandra S. Phillips, André Kertész: Of Paris and New York, The Art Institute of Chicago/The Metropolitan Museum of Art/ Thames and Hudson, New York, 1985, p. 170
Maria Morris Hambourg, The New Vision: Photography Between the World Wars, Ford Motor Company Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, H.N. Abrams, New York, 1989, pl. 10
Carole Kismaric, André Kertész, Aperture Masters of Photography, Aperture Foundation, New York, 1993, p. 45
Weston Naef, In Focus: André Kertész: Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 1994, p. 60, pl. 29
Pierre Borhan, André Kertész: His Life and Work, Bulfinch, Massachusetts, 2000, p. 108
Sarah Greenough, André Kertész, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2005, pl. 64

This work is in overall in very good condition. The upper edge of the work is taped to the mounted. There are no apparent condition issues with the work. Some minor foxing and soiling are visible on the reverse of the backing board, unobtrusive to the work. Framed under Plexiglas.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Iconic Modern Photography

The eleven following lots are part of a collection formed over the past 40 years by a private collector who has seeked only the most iconic images throughout the history of modern photography. Several of the works, including those by Cole Weston, Brett Weston, Barbara Morgan, Paul Caponigro and Don Worth, were purchased directly from the photographers in their home or studio between 1978 and 1980. Other works were sourced from galleries and auctions mostly at the end of the 1970s and early 1980s.

This rare group of photography has been carefully selected along with the owner of the collection in order to present to the Asian public some examples from key movements in the history of photography and the most important photographers of the 20th century. Brett Weston and Edward Weston's iconic images are perfect examples of the straight, sharp focused and realist photographs favored by the participants who were part of the f/64 group which aimed to depict reality without any manipulation of the subject. Such approach is a contrast from Caponigro's sensibility visible in his dreamy landscape and the beautiful movement visible in Martha Graham's dance by Barbara Morgan, the co-founder of Aperture – one of the most important magazines in the photography world.

This selection is however not just a catalogue of the best images from the history of photography: these images are sensual, intriguing and overall beautifully composed. They enrich the imagination of the viewer and are pleasure to the eyes and to the mind. By presenting these photographs in Asia the present collector wishes to draw the attention of collectors in the region to this medium.

André Kertész was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1894 and is today considered one of the seminal figures of photojournalism. Championing unorthodox camera angles and compositions, Kertész's ground-breaking works met resistance at first but soon gained international recognition and appeared in numerous magazines. Kertész career can be divided into four periods - the Hungarian period, the French period, the American period and the international period.