E-Photo
Issue #183  9/9/2011
 
Two Special Mid-Season Photography and Photobook Auctions At Bassenge

An extensive collection of architectural photographs is the basis of Bassenge's special photography auction on September 24, 2011, at 3 p.m. The collection is founded primarily on Bauhaus and International Style architectural images. The regular Bassenge Photography auction is still scheduled for later in the fall.

Despite the overall main theme, the catalogue is divided in three parts.

The first section offers architectural photography from the 1920s-1930s and apart from many buildings by Bauhaus architects, also includes a group of 97 exceptional night views of the Osram and light industry campaign "Berlin im Licht", which took place in 1928. Important photographer names represented in this portion of the sale include Werner Mantz, Hugo Schmölz and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, among many others.

A selection of rare photographs from the same era of architectural history, namely the design and construction of the "White City", Tel Aviv, comprises the second section and is of equal interest. Many of these photographs bear the stamp of photographers such as: A. Bernheim, J. Kalter, K. Triest, W. Zadek and others, who, like many of the Jewish architects whose buildings they photographed, fled Germany just in time and who brought the spirit of the Bauhaus to Palestine.

The third and last section offers a wide range of architectural views of the reconstruction years after World War II. The period from 1945 to circa 1960 is represented by increasingly individualized architectural solutions, which still embrace the international style in often surprisingly beautiful photographs.

Bassenge will also hold a special photobook auction on the same day, September 24, at 5 p.m. The books offered are a combination of artist's photobooks, as well as photographic literature. Highlights include many classics such as, Helmar Lerski's "Köpfe des Alltags" from 1931 and William Eggleston's "Guide" from 1976. Contemporary photobooks such as Andreas Gursky's "Montparnasse" of 1995 are also being offered, as well as a large collection of photobooks by Japanese artists such as Daido Moriyama, Ikko Narahara and Kishin Shinoyama.

Previewing for both auctions is: Sept. 19-22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., as well as by appointment. The catalogue can be ordered from the department (contact information below), or can be seen online at: http://194.25.171.19/bassenge/en/default.asp .

Auctions: Architectural Photography Sept. 24, 2011, 3.p.m.; Photobooks 5 p.m. Previewing and auctions at: Bassenge Modern Art Dept., Rankestr. 24, 1st floor, 10789 Berlin, Germany. Contact: Jennifer Augustyniak at jennifer@bassenge.com or art@bassenge.com ; phone: + 49 30 219 97 277; fax: +49 30 219 97 105.