Edward Steichen’s Modernist and Iconic Photographs of Greta Garbo and Gloria Swanson Come to Sale with Sotheby’s

An influential figure of the 20th century, Edward Steichen was renowned for transforming photography into an art form. The American artist is celebrated for his avant-garde style and fashion photography. Steichen’s iconic portrait of film legend Greta Garbo is a key highlight of this upcoming benefit sale, presented by Sotheby’s. The gelatin silver print features the actress wearing a black outfit with her hands on her head. The image was part of a famous series published in Vanity Fair. 

Another noteworthy image by Steichen is a photograph of the American movie star Gloria Swanson. It was the outcome of a photo session for Vogue magazine in 1924. Steichen recounted some interesting details about this sitting in his autobiography A Life in Photography. He mentioned that at the end of the session, he had hung a piece of black lace veil in front of Gloria’s face. She instantly grasped the idea and gave the expression of a leopardess lurking behind shrubbery and watching her prey. The resulting portrait was a collaboration between these two professionals. Visit Sotheby’s to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Pier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations sale.