Legends, Landscapes, and Lovelies | Photographs

The assassination of Robert Kennedy on June 5th, 1968 came as a shock to many Americans. Three days after the unfortunate incident, a funeral train took Kennedy from New York to his final resting place in Washington, D.C. As the train carried on its journey, thousands of people gathered along the tracks to bid goodbye. Onboard the funeral train was Paul Fusco, a photographer for Look magazine whose images of grieving Americans documented the historic moment. The upcoming Sotheby’s auction presents photographs from the Kennedy funeral train by Fusco. The seminal series of photographs reflects the diversity of American culture as well as the artist’s compositional skills. 

Another highlight is a gelatin silver print titled Nuit De Noël (Happy Club) by the celebrated Malian photographer Malick Sidibé. Nicknamed the “Eye of Bamako,” Sidibé captured the notable changes his country underwent after the end of French colonial rule in 1960. Sidibé’s black and white photographs often portrayed the nightlife of Bamako. Captured on the Christmas Eve of 1963, Nuit De Noël is among Sidibé’s best-known works. The gelatin silver print shows the intimacy between a young couple dancing in an empty room.

Also showcased in the auction are portrait photographs by Chris Levine, a photograph portfolio of supermodel Kate Moss, and a Polaroid print of actress Marilyn Monroe by Philippe Halsman. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Sotheby’s.