Jacques-Henri Lartigue

ferrotyped, with date in pencil on the reverse, 1902-4

Collection of Florette Lartigue, the photographer's widow

Christie's New York, 29 April 1999, Sale 9150, Lot 211

Jacques-Henri Lartigue (New York, 1986), pl. 7 

Vicki Goldberg, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Photographer (Boston, 1998), p. 3

This ferrotyped print is in generally very good condition. As is typical of ferrotyped prints, superficial surface scratches are visible in raking light. Two very small deposits of retouching are visible in raking in the upper portion of the image. Also in raking light, a small repaired tear is visible near the upper left edge of the image. The print exhibits signs of handling. It is trimmed to the image, and there is some attendant chipping visible at the edges. On the reverse, '04' is annotated in an unidentified hand in blue ink with pencil shading on top of it. '1' is annotated in an unidentified hand on a white circular label. There are some stray graphite deposits also on the reverse. Along the upper, lower, and left edges of the reverse are glue deposits and black paper remnants; this print was possibly previously mounted to black paper. This print has undergone conservation work, and a full treatment report is available from the department upon request.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Jacques-Henri Lartigue was given his first camera—complete with a tripod taller than he—for his seventh birthday, in 1901.  A present from his father, a wealthy banker and amateur photographer, the camera ignited Lartigue’s life-long passion for photography.  Initially aided by his photographer father, the young Lartigue photographed his world:  his adventurous older brother Zissou, his cousin Bichonnade jumping, his nurse Dudu, model airplanes, racing cars—the characters and settings that populated his privileged world.  As Lartigue grew, so did his universe; his photographs reflect this, adding the fashionable set of Paris, his lovers, and his wives to his existing repertoire.  The childlike wonder, spontaneity, and joie de vivre that characterize Lartigue’s early work, however, are present throughout his oeuvre. 

The present photograph of Lartigue’s cat Zizi mid-jump was taken when Lartigue was still a child.  While capturing motion had been of interest to photographers for years, Lartigue’s photograph is distinguished by its precociousness.  Illustrating pure photographic instinct, this photograph shows that ‘his eye was simply better than anyone had a right to expect at his age’ (Goldberg, ix).   

“It’s marvelous, marvelous. Nothing will ever be as much fun. I’m going to photograph everything, everything!”

Jacques-Henri Lartigue, 1901