Paul Strand 1890-1976

The photographer to Light Gallery, New York

Private Collection

Another Private Collection

Christie's New York, 6 October 1998, Sale 8982, Lot 288

Acquired by the present collection from the above

Strand was a master at the craft of platinum printing, working meticulously with all of the variables of the process to produce prints to his satisfaction.  This might involve experimentation with different developers, the addition of bleach, or the use of a variety of toning agents.  Strand even varied the temperatures of his chemistry in order to create certain effects. Once a print met his high standards, Strand would carefully varnish the surface to give it the subtle sheen that is visible on the print offered here.  The Platinotype Japine paper that Strand used for this print had a particularly rich tonal range, and he tended to reserve its use for special images. 

Strand made Toadstool, Maine, at the beginning of  the series of images of that would eventually be collected in the book, Time in New England, in 1950.  Consisting of quiet, detailed studies of nature, austere architectural photographs, and portraits, with a selection of historical texts compiled by Nancy Newhall, Time in New England sought to capture the essential character of the region.  While Toadstool, Maine, is not featured in the book, it is very much of-a-piece with the best of the nature studies that do appear within its pages (cf. Time in New England, p. 198, for a similar study).  In his essay on Paul Strand's printing techniques, Richard Benson notes that during the period in which Strand was making the Time in New England images, he was using the platinum process less and less, most likely because of the increasing unavailability of platinum paper (Paul Strand: Essays on his Life and Work, pp. 103-108).  Although Strand did stockpile what platinum paper he could, he was making the majority of his prints in silver by the 1930s and 40s. 

The Christie's 1998 catalogue entry for this photograph transcribes a letter from Strand which accompanied the lot at that time, which stated: 'This letter serves to verify that the recent print you purchased from LIGHT [Gallery] in May 1973, titled "Speckled Toadstool, Georgetown, Maine, 1927" is a vintage platinum print on Platinotype japine paper, printed by me in either 1927 or 1928.  It is a unique print, being the only one I remember making from that negative to date.'