Photography & Photobooks

The Photography and Photobooks auction, offered by Freeman’s Auction, is bursting with fine photographic prints and books from a wide variety of styles and purposes. Among the photos that is sure to great a good deal of interest is a studio print by Lillian Bassman of Ann St. Marie for Chanel. The photo was captured circa 1959, printed later, and is signed by Bassman and inscribed “series of 25 print no. 3”. Bassman worked as a textile designer and fashion illustrator before ultimately becoming a photographer. Her fashion images are stunning and unique, and she achieved her signature effects through dark-room manipulation.

Another interesting and desirable piece is titled Picasso’s Studio by Brassaï. Brassaï was a Hungarian-French photographer, sculptor, writer, and filmmaker who renewed in France in the 20th century. He knew the artist Pablo Picasso for over thirty years, and in the 1940s took numerous photographs of his work displayed in his studio.

Perhaps the most highly-valued lot in the sale is The Quiet in the Land Portfolio. It is a collection of twenty-four signed, c-prints (11 x 14 in. [27.9 x 35.6cm] each) by various artists in a box with a fall-down back, and is bound in silk and designed by Carol Cassidy. All prints are signed, numbered, and dated by the artist. The portfolio includes prints by: Marina Abramovic, Janine Antoni, Hans Georg Berger, Cai Guo-Qiang, Ann Hamilton, Dinh Q. Lê, Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba, Shirin Neshat, Vong Phaophanit, Allan Sekula, Shahzia Sikander, and Rirkrit Tiravanija. The piece at auction is edition number 31 of 50. View any of these lots and register to bid at Invaluable.