Garry Winogrand, San Marcos, Texas, 1964. A Classic Vision: Photographs from A Private European Collection.
A Classic Vision is an online-only sale dedicated to a Private European Collection, featuring 55 photographs by some of the most renowned 20th century photographers. The collection comprises natural settings, city scenes, unforgettable moments, and inconspicuous slices of life in a century that was anything but black and white. Here, our London specialists pick out a few of their favorite works and tell us just what makes them so distinctive.
William Garnett
William Garnett, Snow Geese with Reflection of the Sun over Buena Vista Lake, California, 1953. A Classic Vision: Photographs from A Private European Collection.
Rachel Peart, Head of Department, London
To fly a small plane and see the variety of beauty the USA has to offer is a thrilling experience. Indeed, with such splendor spread out before me, I often feel guilty that I am up there alone. —William Garnett
William Garnett’s work always brings me a sense of awe. I first experienced Garnett’s work close-up when offering two prints over a decade ago, of which this image was one. Piloting his own plane, shooting from the window, he crafted compositions that echoed his contemporary artists and the abstract movement during this time. As exemplified here, the images Garnett captured in his aerial photography have a minimalist beauty, inspiring us to recognise the poetry found within moments of the everyday. This print is carefully mounted, signed and stamped by the artist.
Garry Winogrand
Garry Winogrand, San Marcos, Texas, 1964. A Classic Vision: Photographs from A Private European Collection.
Justine Gruser, Specialist
San Marcos is an image that stayed in my mind long after first seeing it. Considered one of the greatest American photographers of the 20th century, Garry Winogrand's name is synonymous with everyday scenes of New York’s streets and anonymous passers-by. This image of an abandoned diner differs from the majority of his work through its absence of the human form as the main subject. The smaller scale here, depicting an intimate yet absent space, lends an air of melancholy: the only human figure appears with his back to us, distant and unknown. This image stands in opposition to many of Winogrand's photographs, which are often witty, humorous compositions, such as the Women are Beautiful series. San Marcos is exceptional for its supposed simplicity, while allowing the viewer room to explore the numerous possible interpretations from both its composition and its focus on the theme of '60s America.
Brett Weston
Brett Weston, Holland Canal, 1971. A Classic Vision: Photographs from A Private European Collection.
Clare Lamport, Associate Specialist and Cataloguer
I’m obsessed with these stunning 20th century photographs from a Private European Collection. Here, we see bare trees reflected as dark shadows along a misty Dutch canal. Rendered in timeless monochrome and devoid of human presence, the balanced elements of this exquisite landscape create a sense of calm. For leading American photographer Brett Weston (1911-1993), "Nature is a great artist. The greatest," which he focused on as his primary subject. One of his most quintessential works, other prints of this image are held in museum collections, including The Art Institute of Chicago and the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Between July 2022 and January 2023, California’s San José Museum of Art presents a retrospective of Weston’s career, from the 1930s through to the 1970s.
Helmut Newton
Helmut Newton, Upstairs at Maxim's, Paris, 1978. A Classic Vision: Photographs from A Private European Collection.
Imogen Franks, Administrator
Transporting you back to the roaring ‘20s, Helmut Newton’s Upstairs at Maxim’s is effortlessly stylish, set in Paris’ most famous restaurant, Maxim’s de Paris. This cinematic image is reminiscent of a movie still, as the opulent Art Nouveau mirror leads the eye back towards the gentleman’s head. This photograph perfectly portrays Newton’s surrealist aesthetic, playing with our optical capacity to read suggested form. At first glance charming, this image becomes swiftly jarring after one notices the detached hand of the model. While this work is superficially a piece of fashion photography, Newton creates a dialogue around agency, illusion, and the sincerity of fashion.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Tivoli, Italy, 1933. A Classic Vision: Photographs from A Private European Collection.
Christian Rosolino, Intern
Take it from someone who grew up in Rome: when the last plant wilts under the baking summer sun, and the final shop shutter comes tumbling down for the seasonal repose, the only place you do not want to be is Rome! In ancient times, city dwellers eagerly yearned for the moment when they could relinquish their urban domus and retreat to their villae in the countryside. Just as the emperor Hadrian choose the dramatic rolling hills that encase the town of Tivoli, so does the present-day Roman. Bridging over two millennia of history is this photograph by Henri Cartier-Bresson, with luscious slices of perfectly-ripe watermelon alongside plump stone fruits capturing how Tivoli continued to embody its role as an idyllic summer escape in the 1930s.
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