Phillips Presents Impressions Parisiennes: Une Collection de Photographies
A Single Owner Collection of 66 Photographs to be Offered at Auction in Paris on 30 November
Melvin Sokolsky
Paris Portfolio, 1963
Estimate: €30,000 - 50,000
PARIS – 6 NOVEMBER 2023 – Phillips is pleased to announce Impressions Parisiennes: Une Collection de Photographies, an auction of 66 photographs to take place in Paris on 30 November. Coming from an important collection, this selection has been curated to celebrate the unique spirit of Paris. Highlights include seminal works by leading 20th century photographers including Melvin Sokolsky, Henri Cartier-Bresson, William Klein, André Kertész, Lillian Bassman, and René Groebli, among others. The online highlights preview is now live and the public preview of all 66 works will open on 25 November until the auction on 30 November at Phillips’ Paris galleries on Rue du Bac.
Vanessa Hallett, Deputy Chairwoman, Americas and Worldwide Head of Photographs, Phillips, said, "We are thrilled to present this charming collection in Paris, a city that has been central to photography since the invention of the medium in 1839. These images serve as a tribute to Paris, to Parisians, and to all that this incomparable city represents. Working closely with the collector to whom these works belong, we discussed in detail the subjects of these works and the photographers behind them, leading us to the strategic decision to offer this collection in Paris. This selection of photographs pays homage to the collector's discerning eye and captures the romantic, joyful, and seductive spirit of Paris. We look forward to presenting these extraordinary works when the preview opens on 25 November in our Paris galleries on Rue du Bac.”
Leading the auction is a portfolio of 12 photographs by Melvin Sokolsky. Sokolsky’s photographs of models enclosed in bubbles blend technical innovation with a clever and surreal sense of humour. Originally created to showcase the Spring 1963 fashion collections, these images continue to astonish. A self-taught student of art history, Sokolsky began taking photographs for magazines in the 1950s. His vibrant creativity caught the eye of Harper’s Bazaar art director Henry Wolf, who embraced Sokolsky’s unconventional approach. Sokolsky maintained uncompromisingly high standards for his work, whether it was for credited editorial assignments or published anonymously for advertisers.
René Groebli’s The Eye of Love , 1954, is a small self-published portfolio comprising an array of intimate images of his wife Rita taken whilst on their honeymoon in Paris. Through this portfolio, Groebli tried to convey the essence of French hotel rooms. These images encapsulated a multitude of impressions, including the modest furnishings of an inexpensive hotel room and the word “Amors” embroidered on the curtains. All these elements were intertwined with Groebli’s profound love for his wife, making the series a deeply personal artistic endeavor.
René Groebli
Two photographs from The Eye of Love Portfolio, 1952
Estimate: €15,000 – 20,000
Instilled with joie de vivre, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s images of his native France create an enigmatic collective portrait of the country throughout the 20th century. Taken in 1932, 1954, and 1958 respectively, the present works capture fleeting moments full of emotion and expression; a man leaps over a puddle, an exuberant child proudly fetches bottles of wine while the other children look on, and a young couple are caught in a romantic embrace under a quintessentially Parisian archway.
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Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare, Paris, 1932 Estimate: €15,000 - 25,000 |
Henri Cartier-Bresson Rue Mouffetard, Paris, 1954 Estimate: €20,000 - 30,000 |
Henri Cartier-Bresson Quais, Paris, 1958 Estimate: €12,000 - 18,000 |
Further highlights include photographs taken by William Klein, André Kertész, and Lillian Bassman, among others.
William Klein
Dorothy + Little Bara, Paris, 1960
Estimate: €5,000 - 7,000
André Kertész
Mondrian's Glasses and Pipe, Paris, 1926
Estimate: €4,000 - 6,000
Lillian Bassman
Across the Across the Restaurant, Barbara Mullen, dress by Jacques Fath, Le Grand Véfour, Paris, 1949
Estimate: €7,000 - 9,000
Auction: 30 November 2023
Auction viewing: 25 - 30 November 2023
Location: Phillips, 46 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France
Click here for more information: https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/FR040123
ABOUT PHILLIPS
Phillips: where the world’s curious and bold connect with the art, design and luxury that inspires them. As a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, Phillips offers dedicated expertise in the areas of Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry. Auctions and exhibitions are primarily held in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, with representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips offers a regular selection of live and online auctions, along with items available for immediate purchase. Phillips also offers a range of services and advice on all aspects of collecting, including private sales and assistance with appraisals, valuations, and financial planning.
Visit phillips.com for further information.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
PRESS CONTACTS:
LONDON – Katie Carder, Head of Press and Corporate Communications, Europe kcarder@phillips.com
LONDON – Anna Chapman, Press & Strategic Partnerships Officer achapman@phillips.com
PARIS – Jasmine Spezie, IC Insight Communications Jasmine@insightcommunications.cc
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