PAUL STRAND | Boat and Sheds, Gaspé, 1929

vintage silver print mounted to cardannotated gsp-arch-333 TI in pencil on the reverse of the card signed Paul Strand HS in pencil and annotated master by Hazel Kinsbury Strand, widow of the photographer matted and framed

Aperture Foundation, Millerton
Galerie Zur Stockeregg, Zurich

This print is in perfect condition. Light silvering in black margin and in the darker aread only visible under raking light. Crisp and velvety soft tones,
"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."

Paul Strand made this photograph in 1929 during his first trip to the Gaspé Peninsula. The region had just become accessible to visitors through the construction of a road. Strand had to adapt his printing techniques in order to highlight the specificity of the Northern greyness. His desire was to transcribe the interaction between human and his envirement between the sea, sky and earth. Considered as the leader of « straight photography » , Strand is celebrated as much for his formal innovations and for his social concerns

The inscription "gsp-arch-333 TI" comes from the Aperture Foundation cataloguing system. "gsp" meaning the project, here Gaspé. "arch" is the subject subcategory for architecture. "333" corresponds to the negative number. "T" is for large subgroup in the archive which is irrelevant here. "I" meaning the duplicate number and each print gets its own, I, II, III etc.

The signature on the reverse is by Paul Strand widow, Hazel. She was authorized to sign prints after his death and she also inscribed "master" when she prefered the print from a particular negative. It is relevant as it corresponds to what Paul Strand was looking for as a finished print to look like.

© Aperture Foundation, Inc., Paul Strand Archive