The photography department at Christie’s will hold a sale of 197 photographs on Friday, November 16, 2012, at 15h00 for lots 1 to 55, and Saturday, November 17, 2012, at 15h00 for lots 56 to 197. This set of photographs, estimated to be worth 2 to 3 millions euros, is notable for its selection of Man Ray prints, as well as photographs from two private collections, one from California and the other from Japan. The auction will be overseen by Philippe Garner.

The sale will feature a dozen Man Ray photographs. From a private Japanese collection, “Le primat de la matière sur la pensée” (1929), a solarized portrait of Meret Oppenheim that was owned by Julien Lévy (est. 180,000 - 200,000€). Among other Man Ray photographs: the Amadeo Modigliani’s death mask (est. 100,000 - 150,000€); a portrait of Juliet dated 1947 (est. 20,000 - 25,000€); and a portrait of a mannequin taken by Dali for the 1935 Surrealist exhibition (20,000 - 30,000€).

In addition to Man Ray's, there will also be prints by Eugène Atget, Brassaï and Henri-Cartier Bresson, but also more contemporary work by Peter Beard, Youssef Nabil and David Lachapelle. From Atget, “Au tambour, 63 quai des Tournelles” (1908, est. 40,000 - 60,000€) and a 1946 print of Cartier-Bresson’s “Jean-Paul Sartre” (est. 50,000 - 70,000€).

The California collection of Bruce and Nancy Berman features work by fifty American photographers, from Walker Evans, Margaret Bourke-White, Dorothea Lange and Weegee to William Eggleston, Todd Hido, Martin Parr, Alec Soth and Mitch Epstein, with large-format prints for the more contemporary artists. The overall estimate for this collection is between 150,000€ and 220,000€, with prices ranging between 2,500€ and 10,000€.

The second collection, from Japan, consists of 42 photographs from the first half of the 20th century. It is estimated to be worth between 500,000 and 700,000€.

In addition to the aforementioned solarized Man Ray portrait, we also find in the collection: a photomontage by El Lissitsky, entitled “Pelikan Tinte” (1924, est. 80,000 - 120,000€); a vintage print of André Kertesz’s “Distortion” (1933, est. 30,000 - 50,000€); a 1850 salt print of Maxime du Camp’s “Le Kaire, Maison et jardins dans le quartier Franck” (est. 20,000 - 30,000€).

We also find several prints from Theodore Lux Feininger and his brother Andréas, as well as photographs by Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Eugène Atget, Brassaï, Raoul Hausmann, Heinz Hajek-Halke and Madame Yevonde, one of the pioneers of color photography.

The complete auction catalogue is available online.

Bernard PERRINE
Bernard.Perrine1@orange.fr

Auctions
Christie's Paris
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 3 pm Lots 1 to 55
Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 3 pm Lots 56 to 197

Exhibition
November 12 to 16, 10 am / 6 pm
Christie's
9 avenue Matignon
75008 Paris

Informations
Matthieu Humery
Élodie Morel
Jean-Mathieu Martini