Edward Weston

initialed and dated in pencil on the mount, titled, dated, and numbered '60A' in pencil on the reverse, 1926, probably printed in the 1940s (Conger 207)

Frank H. Boos Gallery, 1 February 2001, Lot 804

In addition to the print of this image in the Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, Conger locates prints in the following institutions: Harrison Memorial Library, Carmel; Art Institute of Chicago; Huntington Library, San Marino; Museo del Arte Moderno, Mexico City; and a project print at Santa Cruz. While the negative for this image was exposed in 1926, during Weston's Mexican sojourn, it is likely that the print offered here was made in the 1940s and given to the Donald and Beatrice Prendergast at that time. Weston's initial and date on the front of the mount – as opposed to the full signature – is more commonly seen on prints made and mounted in the 1940s. The glossy paper used for this print differs markedly from what Weston typically used in the mid-1920s, when most of his prints were made on platinum paper or matte-surface gelatin silver paper. The smooth, medium-weight, off-white board to which this photograph is mounted is very similar in size and type to other prints in the Prendergast group which are definitively 1940s prints (see Lots __ and __). This photograph is essentially in excellent condition. When examined in raking light, some age-appropriate silvering can be seen in the dark areas. There is a band of age-darkening on the top edge of the front of the mount – this does not come close to the image. The mount is lightly age-darkened on the reverse. This image is reproduced in the following books: Conger 207 Supreme Instants, pl. 22 The Mexican Years, frontispiece & pl. 66 Edward Weston in Mexico, p. 46 Edward Weston: A Legacy, p. 34 Taschen, p. 90
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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