translated by Giorgina Arcuri

On 15th May “Photographs” was held at Christie’s London, a great occasion for collectors of the category who are passionate about works by the most famous names in the history of photography, but also more contemporary artistic figures.
An interesting sale that, despite not achieving a great stir, presented 114 lots fetching 1,402,525 pounds with a 72% sale percentage.
As our magazine had already announced, the artist who gained the greatest success was Andrè Kertèsz. The London auction proposed 23 lots by this Hungarian artist, achieving a 52% sale percentage for the artist.
Andrè Kertèsz is considered one of the most important photographers of the twentieth century for his ability to use the camera in a natural and rigorous way, privileging narration at the expense of  special effects. And precisely for this geniality, Kertèsz realized the highest price during the auction.
Indeed, “Satiric Dancer, Paris 1926” which immortalizes a Hungarian dancer called Magda, from a pre-sale estimate included between 200 and 300 thousand pounds, sold for 228,500 pounds.
Other works by Kertèsz were auctioned: “Shadow of the Eiffel Tower before May 1926” (estimate 40-60 thousand pounds) selling for 54,500 pounds, “Clock of the Acadèmie Française, 1929” selling for 46,100 pounds, “Paula Arma’s Hands, 1928”, which totalled 38,900 pounds and “Child Kickingball, c. 1930” sold for 58,100 pounds.
Christie’s “Photographs” also auctioned some works by artists who can be considered actual protagonists of historical photography. Among these we must mention “Moonrise, Hernandez New Mexico 1941” by Ansel Adams which, from an initial estimate of 20-30 thousand pounds, realized 46,100 pounds. This photograph, which seems to have unlimited circulation,  has always gained great success at the various auctions. Everyone should remember the result achieved in 2006 at Sotheby’s Paris, when it sold for 530 thousand dollars (423,492 euros), against an estimate of 150-250 thousand dollars.
Furthermore, the London sale auctioned other very important works that have become part of history as the highest artistic expressions in the field of photography. Among these we must mention “On the Banks of Marne” by Henri Cartier-Bresson. On this occasion, the French artist’s work (even this work seems to have unlimited circulation), from an estimate of 12-18 thousand pounds, sold at auction for only 12,500 pounds. The same subject, which portrays common people on a sort of picnic on the banks of a river, has always achieved interesting quotations. At Christie’s New York in 2005 it sold for 110 thousand dollars, while in 2006 at Sotheby’s New York it was acquired for 96,000 dollars.
Not less precious, mainly for its artistic quality, we should mention “Sylvia in my studio, Paris 1981” by Helmut Newton which, from an estimate of 12-18 thousand pounds, sold for 18,500 pounds, while “Nastassja Kinski and Serpent, 14 June 1981” by Richard Avedon, from an estimate included between 15 and 20 thousand pounds, achieved 24,500 pounds.
Even Christie’s section dedicated to Japanese photographers was important. Besides the works by Izima Kaouru, Nobuyoshi Araki and Mika Ninagawa which did not realize important performances, Hiroshi Sugimoto’s works marked discrete quotations: “Time Exposed” sold for 12,500 pounds, “United Nations Headquarters, 1997” and “Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, 2000” totalled both 10 thousand pounds.