​Sotheby’s London to auction iconic fashion photographs

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Apr 28, 2016

An exceptional selection of fashion images by 20th century fashion photographers Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Guy Bourdin and others will be showcased at Sotheby’s in London on 19 May.

The sale is timed to coincide with the second edition of Photo London, a world-class photography event taking place from 18 May to 22.

Going under the hammer are two breath-taking Irving Penn photographs: a snapshot of model Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn wearing a mermaid dress by Marcel Rochas in 1950 and the iconic Mouth picture for L’Oréal. The portrayal displaying lips smeared with numerous shades of lipstick, has been up for sale only two times before.

Further photographs included in the sale are Woman into Man by Helmut Newton, Models by Peter Lindbergh and daring images by Guy Bourdin.

They will share the spotlight with a black and white portrait of Marilyn Monroe by Richard Avedon. Whilst photographing Monroe in his studio in May 1957, he recalls: “For hours she danced and sang and flirted and did this thing that’s—she did Marilyn Monroe. And then there was the inevitable drop. 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. I saw her sitting quietly without expression on her face, and I walked towards her but I wouldn’t photograph her without her knowledge of it. And as I came with the camera, I saw that she was not saying no.”

The photograph is estimated to sell for £30,000 to £50,000.

Sotheby’s fashion photography sale will also include works by contemporary photographers such as David LaChapelle and Miles Aldridge.