August 11, 2017Swann CommunicationsPhotographs & Photobooks Identifying Types of Photographic Prints Read more about Identifying Types of Photographic Prints Our Photographs & Photobooks department has put together a cheat sheet for identifying some of the more common types of photographs we handle. A cyanotype print is made by… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Swann Summer Reading List 2017 July 13, 2017 Swann Swann Summer Reading List 2017 We spoke to specialists at Swann about their extracurricular activities. Unsurprisingly, their interests are generally aligned with their specialty! We asked them to talk about what they’re reading, and compiled… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Specialists in the Field: The New Museum June 30, 2017 Contemporary Art Specialists in the Field: The New Museum Specialists at Swann keep up with the cultural heartbeat by frequenting museum exhibitions. Over the summer, we’ll be sharing some of their experiences, beginning with Diana Flatto and Jessica Feldman… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Postwar Innovations in Printmaking May 5, 2017 Contemporary Art Postwar Innovations in Printmaking These examples come from our May 11 auction of Contemporary Art. From the initial proliferation of engraving in the fifteenth century to the explosion of lithography in the late 1800s,… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Danny Lyon & New Photojournalism April 7, 2017 Photographs & Photobooks Danny Lyon & New Photojournalism The Photographs & Photobooks department contributed to this post on Danny Lyon’s eponymous portfolio in our April 20 auction of Images & Objects: Photographs & Photobooks. The New Journalism movement… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Politics & Satire: The Etchings of James Gillray May 25, 2016 Maps & Atlases Politics & Satire: The Etchings of James Gillray With the presidential primary election in full swing, we’re all up to our eyeballs in satirical columns and cartoons. In the spirit of the season, we thought we’d look at… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about A Rare Manuscript Map from the Dutch East India Company: Java May 21, 2016 Maps & Atlases A Rare Manuscript Map from the Dutch East India Company: Java With an almost two hundred year history, the Dutch East India Company (known in Dutch as Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC), was the dominate force in European trade and navigation of Asia… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Grimm’s Fairytales Signed by Anne Frank Comes to Auction May 4, 2016 19th & 20th Century Literature Grimm’s Fairytales Signed by Anne Frank Comes to Auction Through her poignant writing and tragic story, Anne Frank has become a source of inspiration for millions. Two of our upcoming auctions feature items related to Frank, including Anne and Margot’s… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about The First Auction of Photographs in the United States February 24, 2016 Photographs & Photobooks The First Auction of Photographs in the United States February 14, 1952 Much has changed over the course of our 75-year history here at Swann Galleries, from new departments to the expansion our exhibition space. One small but… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Notes from the Catalogue: Elizabeth Catlett’s Varied Mediums December 11, 2015 African-American Fine Art Notes from the Catalogue: Elizabeth Catlett’s Varied Mediums An accomplished graphic artist and sculptor, Elizabeth Catlett was known for her poignant depictions of African-American life, Mexican life (after her relocation to Mexico following a grant from the Rosenwald… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about The Foundation of a Capital: Early Maps of Washington D.C. December 5, 2015 Maps & Atlases The Foundation of a Capital: Early Maps of Washington D.C. Washington, D.C., with its neoclassical architecture and grand monuments, almost seems as if it arose organically over centuries on the shores of the Potomac. In reality, the Capital City was… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Remembering Eldzier Cortor December 2, 2015 African-American Fine Art Remembering Eldzier Cortor Thanksgiving weekend was tinged with grief this year as the art world mourned the loss of painter and print-maker Eldzier Cortor. Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1916, his family moved… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Leather Bindings, Decorative Dust Jackets and Beyond November 20, 2015 Art Press & Illustrated Books Leather Bindings, Decorative Dust Jackets and Beyond While the old adage tells us that we certainly shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, it’s hard to ignore the artistry that goes into binding books and creating dust… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Rare Vintage Posters for the Titanic November 13, 2015 Vintage Posters Rare Vintage Posters for the Titanic A subject of fascination since its dramatic demise during its maiden voyage, the legacy of White Star Line’s Titanic has continued to ripple throughout the auction world for years. While… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Autographs: The Little “F” in Freud’s Signature October 15, 2015 Autographs Autographs: The Little “F” in Freud’s Signature Written by Autographs Specialist Marco Tomaschett: Autograph collectors all encounter it at one time or another: the perfectly illegible autograph. The impossible convulsive scrawl of Giacomo Puccini, or the idiosyncratic… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Egon Schiele: A Look at the Artist’s Evolving Self-Image September 22, 2015 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings Egon Schiele: A Look at the Artist’s Evolving Self-Image Egon Schiele is celebrated among the Austrian Modern Masters Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka, who are best remembered for their insightful portrayal of the human condition. Schiele’s style was informed… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Biography of Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) July 30, 2015 African-American Fine Art Biography of Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) On September 15, 2015 Swann Galleries offered The Art Collection of Maya Angelou. Author, poet, actress and champion of civil rights, Dr. Maya Angelou was one of the most dynamic voices… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Vernacular Imagery, Photobooks & Fine Photographs December 18, 2014 Photographs & Photobooks Vernacular Imagery, Photobooks & Fine Photographs Swann’s second sale devoted to Vernacular Photography showed the strength of this growing segment of the photo market, with strong results for esoteric material. The top vernacular lot was… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about The Hall-Harte Archive of Suffragist Photographs December 3, 2014 Photographs & Photobooks The Hall-Harte Archive of Suffragist Photographs We are delighted to offer a suffragist archive of rare and important photographs documenting “The Liberty Bell Tour, Votes for Women.” The march was organized by Louise Hall and her life-partner Ethel… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Nicholas Lowry on Travel Posters from the Julius Paul Collection December 2, 2014 Vintage Posters Nicholas Lowry on Travel Posters from the Julius Paul Collection Swann President and Posters specialist Nicholas D. Lowry writes beautifully about the December 17 auction of Travel Posters from the Julius Paul Collection. Read on for his notes on the sale.… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Swann FAQ: What Is an Edition? December 1, 2014 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings Swann FAQ: What Is an Edition? Among the items that Swann auctions are books, fine art prints, photographs, posters and maps–all of which have their own definition of the word “edition.” When it comes to prints,… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Thomas Paine’s American Crisis Makes the Albany News November 24, 2014 Printed & Manuscript Americana Thomas Paine’s American Crisis Makes the Albany News “These are the times which try men’s souls…” so begins Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis, arguably his second most famous work. Our 2014 annual fall Americana auction, Swann will offer… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about The 14th State: Thomas Jefferson Signs Vermont Statehood Act November 20, 2014 Printed & Manuscript Americana The 14th State: Thomas Jefferson Signs Vermont Statehood Act Among the highlights of today’s auction of Autographs was one of 28 copies of the act making Vermont the 14th state in the Union signed by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Fluxus: The Art of the Everyday November 12, 2014 Contemporary Art Fluxus: The Art of the Everyday Examples of Fluxus artwork appear in many of our auctions, and demand seems to be on the rise for works by the group, which was active from the early 1960s through… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Wearable Art: Basquiat Tags a Jacket November 4, 2014 Contemporary Art Wearable Art: Basquiat Tags a Jacket A highlight in our upcoming auction of Contemporary Art is a leather jacket tagged by various 1980s graffiti artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). These artists frequented the popular four-floor after-hours… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about In Memoriam: W. Michael Mathes, by Brian Dervin Dillon, Ph.D. November 3, 2014 Printed & Manuscript Americana In Memoriam: W. Michael Mathes, by Brian Dervin Dillon, Ph.D. On November 6, 2014 Swann auctioned The Latin Americana Library of Dr. W. Michael Mathes. The catalogue for the auction begins with a biography of the sale’s namesake, written by… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Notes from the Catalogue: Diego Rivera’s Printmaking Career October 25, 2014 Old Master Through Modern Prints Notes from the Catalogue: Diego Rivera’s Printmaking Career Diego Rivera (1886-1957), the painter who helped establish the Mexico Mural Movement and was a leading figure in Social Realism, was born in Guanajuato in North-Central Mexico. In 1897, Rivera… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about American Books Printed Before the Bay Psalm Book? October 17, 2014 Printed & Manuscript Americana American Books Printed Before the Bay Psalm Book? The Bay Psalm Book is often described as the first book printed in America. Issued in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1640, it was certainly the first book printed in the English… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about O. Winston Link: A Turbulent Past October 15, 2014 Photographs & Photobooks O. Winston Link: A Turbulent Past O. Winston Link’s photographs have infused Swann’s Photograph Department auctions with a consistent, quiet power for years, but lot 175 brings a new dramatic force to the October 17, 2014… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Notes from the Catalogue: Dr. Amalia Amaki on Dr. Richard A. Long October 7, 2014 African-American Fine Art Notes from the Catalogue: Dr. Amalia Amaki on Dr. Richard A. Long Dr. Amalia Amaki, noted art historian and artist, wrote the catalogue introduction for The Richard A. Long Collection of African-American Art. Dr. Amaki, a native Atlantan, received her Ph.D in… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Must-See Fall Show: Norman Lewis & Lee Krasner at the Jewish Museum September 16, 2014 African-American Fine Art Must-See Fall Show: Norman Lewis & Lee Krasner at the Jewish Museum Last week, From the Margins: Lee Krasner and Norman Lewis opened at the Jewish Museum. The exhibition combines the works of an unlikely pair: Lee Krasner, a female Jewish artist… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about What Is an After Print? September 5, 2014 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings What Is an After Print? One of the most common questions we get asked at Swann is what it means when a lot is catalogued with the word “after” in parentheses following an artist’s name.… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about 75 years of Madeline September 4, 2014 Illustration Art 75 years of Madeline In honor of the 75th anniversary of everyone’s favorite French schoolgirl, our Art Books specialist Christine von der Linn submitted this post. This Saturday, September 6, 2014, marks the 75th… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about White Line: Blanche Lazzell and the Provincetown Printers September 3, 2014 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings White Line: Blanche Lazzell and the Provincetown Printers Swann Galleries’ upcoming September 23 auction featuring American Prints & Drawings includes Blanche Lazzell’s Tulips, color woodcut on Japan paper, 1920, created by the artist in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1920. Lazzell (1878-1956) was… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Nick Brandt, Activist-Photographer: “I Stick with Nature” August 29, 2014 Photographs & Photobooks Nick Brandt, Activist-Photographer: “I Stick with Nature” The delicate condition of the natural world is vividly brought to life by Nick Brandt, who organized the Big Life Foundation to protect wild animals in East Africa. This British… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about The Danish Girl and the Erotic Art of Gerda Wegener August 21, 2014 Art Press & Illustrated Books The Danish Girl and the Erotic Art of Gerda Wegener Many of the biggest names in Hollywood have been rumored to be part of an upcoming film based on the David Ebershoff novel The Danish Girl, which was inspired by the true story… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about WWI&II, Grand Prix and Tennis Images Led Swann’s Top August Posters Auction of All Time August 8, 2014 Vintage Posters WWI&II, Grand Prix and Tennis Images Led Swann’s Top August Posters Auction of All Time Coming on the heels of tremendous media coverage (see: The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Luxury Travel Magazine, Robb Report and Slate), Swann’s August 6 auction of Vintage Posters grossed more… Share Facebook Twitter
August 4, 2014 African-American Fine Art African-American Artists on Martha’s Vineyard Martha’s Vineyard, an affluent summer colony located on an island south of Cape Cod, has long attracted African American artists. The town of Oak Bluffs has been a favored vacation… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about The Richard A. Long Collection of African-American Art Comes to Swann July 25, 2014 African-American Fine Art The Richard A. Long Collection of African-American Art Comes to Swann On October 9, as part of our Fall African-American Fine Art auction, Swann will offer the collection of Richard A. Long. Among these 60 works are pieces by early pioneers… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about “The Great War” in Posters July 18, 2014 Vintage Posters “The Great War” in Posters Summer 2014 marks 100 years since the start of World War I, also known as The Great War. Sparked by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria on June 28,… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Keep Calm and Poster On July 11, 2014 Vintage Posters Keep Calm and Poster On The image is so iconic, it’s been co-opted countless times, but in Swann Galleries’ upcoming Vintage Posters auction we have the original: a 1939 Keep Calm and Carry On poster. When… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Top Lots: Melville’s Whale, Signed Flannery O’Connor Firsts, Rex Stout Titles June 23, 2014 19th & 20th Century Literature Top Lots: Melville’s Whale, Signed Flannery O’Connor Firsts, Rex Stout Titles Topping our June 19, 2014 auction of 19th & 20th Century Literature was a first American edition of Herman Melville’s seminal Moby-Dick, which brought $40,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $18,000… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Celebrating Bloomsday 2014 June 16, 2014 19th & 20th Century Literature Celebrating Bloomsday 2014 To celebrate the life and literary oeuvre of James Joyce on the international holiday that is Bloomsday, we are looking back on some of the many editions of James Joyce’s… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Top Lots: Winslow Homer, Preston Dickinson & James D. Smillie June 14, 2014 American Art Top Lots: Winslow Homer, Preston Dickinson & James D. Smillie The first of its kind at Swann to break $1 Million, the American Art auction on Thursday was our highest-grossing sale in this category ever, with a sale total of… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Barkley L. Hendricks in Conversation with Nigel Freeman at Swann June 13, 2014 African-American Fine Art Barkley L. Hendricks in Conversation with Nigel Freeman at Swann Last week Swann Galleries had the pleasure of hosting an artist talk with Barkley L. Hendricks, whose “unique work resides at the nexus of American realism and post-modernism, a space… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Records & Results: African-American Fine Art June 12, 2014 African-American Fine Art Records & Results: African-American Fine Art An auction focused on the politically charged and artistically fertile period of the 1960s and 70s, Swann Galleries’ African-American Fine Art auction titled The Shape of Things to Come on… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Naturalist Charles Burchfield June 11, 2014 American Art Naturalist Charles Burchfield If you’ve got summer on your mind these days–and who doesn’t?–you may be drawn to some of the bucolic images in Swann’s June 12 auction of American Art. And, among… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Assemblage Artist Noah Purifoy at Auction for First Time June 5, 2014 African-American Fine Art Assemblage Artist Noah Purifoy at Auction for First Time Swann Galleries is pleased to offer the first significant work by assemblage artist Noah Purifoy to come to auction in our upcoming sale of African-American Fine Art titled The Shape of Things… Share Facebook Twitter
Read more about Taking a Closer Look: A Map of Kyoto as the Imperial Capital of Japan May 30, 2014 Maps & Atlases Taking a Closer Look: A Map of Kyoto as the Imperial Capital of Japan The June 3, 2014 auction of Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books is marked by a number of unique or exceedingly rare examples of cartographic material and… Share Facebook Twitter