Guy Ray’s famed “Le Violon d’Ingres” is poised to make historical past as the costliest {photograph} ever bought at public sale.
The black and white symbol, taken in 1924 by way of the American surrealist artist, transforms a lady’s bare frame right into a violin by way of protecting the image of her again with f-holes.
The unique print of the masterpiece, broadly thought to be to be Guy Ray’s most renowned paintings, is anticipated to fetch between $5-7 million when it is going underneath the hammer at Christie’s in Would possibly — the very best estimate for a unmarried {photograph} in public sale historical past, in step with the public sale space.
Ray, born Emmanuel Radnitzky, lived from 1890 to 1976. He was once a key member of the Dada and Surrealism actions and his “Le Violon d’Ingres” is the highest lot to be introduced from the selection of Rosalind Gersten Jacobs and Melvin Jacobs, retail executives and artwork creditors who had ties to Surrealist circles.
In step with the public sale space, the New York couple bought the piece from Ray again in 1962 and it’s going to be bought along different artistic endeavors, pictures, jewellery, and posters, from their artwork assortment accrued over a long time.
Jacobs, a former chairman and CEO of Saks 5th Street, died in 1993 on the age of 67. His spouse Rosalind Gersten Jacobs, an established Macy’s government, died in 2019 on the age of 94. The couple’s daughter and the executor in their property, Peggy Jacobs Bader, stated in a commentary that each and every piece from the gathering “has a novel and intimate tale in the back of it” and displays the “glad spirit of my oldsters’ courting.”
Darius Himes, global head of pictures at Christie’s, referred to as the photograph “one of the iconic works of the twentieth century,” in a commentary. “This beguiling Surrealist symbol is the results of a novel and hand-manipulated darkroom procedure.”
He added: “The achieve and affect of the picture, directly romantic, mysterious, roguish, and playful, has captured the minds of all for just about 100 years. As a photographic paintings, it’s remarkable available on the market.”
Different standout items being bought come with Vija Celmins’ Mars, which is estimated to fetch between $1,800,000 and $2,500,000.
The present document for {a photograph} bought at public sale is held by way of Andreas Gursky’s Rhine II, which was once bought by way of Christie’s for a staggering $4.3 million in 2011.
