Sex sells: Racy photos up for auction
Fashion and glamour are epitomized by the iconic photos from the 20th century by the great masters in their field, including Irving Penn and Richard Avedon. The photos are up for auction by Sotheby's London as part of a sale simply titled "Photographs" on May 19, 2016. By breaking the rules, Penn, Avedon and others pushed fashion photography into the realm of fine art, paving the way for today's masters in the field.
The auction includes a vast array of photography, but clearly sex sells with some of the highest estimated works coming from the world of fashion photography. One image by Peter Lindbergh titled "Mathilde, Paris" bearing a woman's nude torso as the model looks out over Paris was estimated at £100,000-15000.
The sales from "Photographs" brought the auction house a total of £1,422,375 (2,073,823 USD).
This print is titled "Christy Turlington, New York" 1990.
"Models"
Peter Lindbergh's "Models" features supermodels Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, Estelle Lefébure, Karen Alexander and Rachel Williams for Vogue US on the beach in Los Angeles in 1990.
These models were the epitome of the era of the supermodel. Evangelista famously told Vogue that she and Turlington wouldn't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.
Created during an era when fashion photography meant meeting standards of beauty through retouching, Lindbergh felt it was the responsibility of photographers to "free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection." It was considered so avant-garde, that Vogue decided it couldn't publish "Models" at the time.
Estimated at £60,000-80,000, this print sold for £81,250 (118,462 USD), a new auction record for this subject by the photographer.
"Woman into Man, Paris"
Photographer Helmut Newton revolutionized fashion photography with his erotic and provocative poses in a voyeuristic style. He projected women with power and strength.
He was quoted by American Photo in 2000 stating, "What I find interesting is working in a society with certain taboos -- and fashion photography is about that kind of society. To have taboos, then to get around them -- that is interesting."
"Woman into Man, Paris" in 1979
"The Room #2"
Miles Aldridge made this photograph in 2011. It is estimated at £8,000-12,00.
Aldridge is known for creating narratives with his photography that involves vibrant color and ultra-glamorous women.
"The Money Shot"
David LaChapelle is one of the most widely published photographers of the last 30 years. His style is considered highly provocative and stylized with saturated color.
David LaChapelle - "The Money Shot" 2001 Estimate: £10,000-15,000
Helena Christensen
Michel Compte photographed Danish supermodel Helena Christensen in a sexy fashion shoot for Vogue, Italia in 1991
"Helena Christensen, V" 1993
Estimate: £8,000-12,000
Kate Moss
Albert Watson's "Kate Moss Marrakech (Frontal Nude II)" 1993 is estimated at £18,000-22,000.
Kate Moss and the era of grunge replaced the look exuded by the glamorous supermodels of the late 1980s and early 90s such as Evangelista and Naomi Campbell. "Androgynous" and "heroic-chic" became the new look.
The Mouth
Irving Penn photographed this striking image called "The Mouth," mimicking an artist's palette for L'Oreal. It is just the third time the work, which is part of lot 78, has come up for auction.
According to Sotheby's, the model's ironic pout suggests a mocking of the concept of "perfect beauty" promoted by beauty brands.
"The Mouth" commanded the top price at the auction on May 19, 2016, selling for £221,000 (322, 218 USD).
The "real" Marilyn Monroe
"And when the night was over and the white wine was over and the dancing was over, she sat in the corner like a child, with everything gone." Avedon said of Marilyn Monroe. "I saw her sitting quietly without expression on her face."
Estimated at £30,000-50,000, Avedon's photograph of one of the world's most photographed stars whose charms, splendor and flirtations with tragedy were made wildly public - sold for £77,500 (113,186 USD).
Richard Avedon "Marilyn Monroe, Actress, New York City'," 1957
Untitled
Guy Bourdin "Untitled" For French Vogue, Charles Jourdan, 1978
Estimate: £8,000-12,000
Bourdin, who died in 1991, was considered an innovator in fashion photography. He made his debut with Vogue in the 1950s. His photos involved a storytelling, narrative style.
Rochas Mermaid Dress
Irving Penn photographed his muse, the Swedish, born model Lisa Fonssagrives, wearing a mermaid dress by designer Marcel Rochas. The two married soon after the photo was taken.
Fonssagrives was the epitome of fashion and class. She was famously photographed by Erwin Blumenfeld wearing a white dress while standing on the Eiffel Tower.
The print sold for £50,000 (72,900 USD).