Robert Heinecken - Photographs New York Wednesday, April 6, 2022 | Phillips
  • Provenance

    Kopeikin Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Literature

    The Museum of Modern Art, Robert Heinecken: Object Matter, pp. 50-59, 134-139
    Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Robert Heinecken: Photographist, pl. 19-44, 71-73

  • Catalogue Essay

    Transcending traditional conventions of photography, Robert Heinecken’s work cleverly challenges notion of sexuality, gender, economic status and an array of other socio-cultural issues. In Recto/Verso Heinecken sourced images from popular magazines and then placed them on light-sensitive paper. Upon exposure, both sides (recto and verso) of the page transferred to the paper, collapsing disparate images onto a single frame. The intersection of the two images had a variety of effects that were heightened by their unexpected nature. Some seemingly innocent images were suddenly imbued with an unforeseen salacious undertone, whereas the sex appeal of titillating images was diffused by the humorous appearance of their banal counterparts. Indeed, the dialogue between the two images on a single frame begets visual hybrids that are at times absurd, at others awkward, and unfailingly engaging.

65

Recto/Verso

Berkeley: Landweber/Artists, 1989. Twelve dye destruction prints.
Varying dimensions from 8 5/8 x 8 in. (21.9 x 20.3 cm) to 10 3/4 x 9 in. (27.3 x 22.9 cm)
Each signed, titled, dated, numbered sequentially 1-12, numbered 48/50 and copyright notation in pencil on the verso; each numbered sequentially 1-12 in pencil on the mat interior. Numbered 48/50 in pencil on the colophon. Each print individually matted with accompanying essay text on semi-translucent sheet. Issued with Are You Rea (Los Angeles: self-published, 1968), a portfolio of twenty-five lithographs.

Estimate
$30,000 - 50,000 

Contact Specialist

Sarah Krueger
Head of Department, Photographs
skrueger@phillips.com


Vanessa Hallett
Worldwide Head of Photographs and Chairwoman, Americas
vhallett@phillips.com

Photographs

New York Auction 6 April 2022