Man Ray, Robert Frank, and Diane Arbus images fetch millions at auction
posted Friday, April 12, 2013 at 2:07 PM EDT
The photography as collectible art market appears to be alive and well. Recent auctions of several well-known photographs fetched over $30 million in sales, including record prices for work by Man Ray and Diane Arbus, according to PDN Pulse.
A signed, gelatin silver photogram by Man Ray from 1922, called "Untitled Rayograph," (r.) turned heads when it sold for US$1,203,750 at Christie's auction house in New York last week. The 9 1/4 x 7-inch print, which is signed in pencil on the mount, was expected to go for US$250,000 - 350,000, but ended up setting a record for a Man Ray image.
Also last week, a gelatin silver print of Diane Arbus' image, "Identical Twins Cathleen (l) and Colleen, Roselle, N.J., 1966," sold for US$602,500 at the Phillips auction house in New York last week. The 15 x 14 3/4-inch print, which had been estimated to sell for US$180,000 - 220,000, also set a record for an Arbus photo.
Also on the auction block at Christie's last week was Robert Frank's classic photo "Trolley - New Orleans, 1955" from his landmark book, The Americans. The 11 3/8 x 16 5/8-inch gelatin silver print sold for US$633,750, even though it was valued at US$400,000 - $600,000.
"The strength of these results is indicative of the thriving market for photographs, which continues to gain momentum with every sale,” Christie's director Philippe Garner said in a statement afterwards.
Sotheby's in New York also had a noteworthy photography sale last week when a 1927 Edward Weston print called "Two Shells" sold for US$533,000.
(Via PDN Pulse and Amateur Photographer)
