Alec Soth’s seminal 2004 book Sleeping by the Mississippi is a collection of photographs taken on various road trips along the riverbank that together present a portrait of life on the oft-forgotten ‘third coast.’ Featured as the cover of the book’s second edition, Charles, Vasa, Minnesota depicts a man standing on the dilapidated side roof (or deck) of a house, holding two model airplanes. While it is void of the overt American symbolism of the flag and open road, it is rife with the American spirit, as personified by a man in nature exploring the limits of humanity to set flight.
Cover of 2nd edition of Sleeping by the Mississippi (not in sale) Other prints of this image are in the collections of Museum of Modern Art, New York; Brooklyn Museum; National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis Institute of Art; and San Francisco Museum of Art.
Provenance
Weinstein Gallery, Minneapolis, 2004
Literature
Steidl, Alec Soth: Sleeping by the Mississippi, cover
97
Charles, Vasa, Minnesota
2002
Chromogenic print.
39 5/8 x 31 1/2 in. (100.6 x 80 cm)
Signed, titled, dated '2004' and annotated 'AP' in ink on a label affixed to the reverse of the frame. AP2 from an edition of 10 plus 2 artist's proofs.
Estimate
$30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $113,400
Sarah Krueger
Head of Department, Photographs
Vanessa Hallett
Worldwide Head of Photographs and Deputy Chairman, Americas
Photographs
New York Auction 8 April 2021
159
This lot is no longer available.
160
This lot is no longer available.
