Frederick Sommer 1905-1999

mounted, signed, titled, and dated by the photographer in pencil on the reverse, matted, framed, 1948

Collection of the William Hill Land and Cattle Company

Christie's New York, 8 April 1998, Sale 8884, Lot 305

Acquired by Nancy Richardson from the above

This print, on semi-glossy paper, is in generally very good condition. When examined in raking light, four small, shiny, transparent, streak-like areas of what appear to be glass offsetting, are visible at the top edge. There are two additional tiny areas that are similar above the bottom edge and in the upper right quadrant. Also visible in raking light are tiny deposits of original retouching and a few faint scratches on the surface. The white/gray mount is in fair to good condition. There is light soiling and sunning on the front of the mount. It has been unevenly trimmed at the lower edge, and there is a faint tide line just above the edge. On the reverse of the mount, there are seven small adhesive deposits, light soiling, and several deposits of indeterminate nature.
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.

While Sommer has dated the print offered here '1948,' it is possible that it was made a year later, in 1949, after Sommer was visited at his home in Arizona by Aaron Siskind.  During Siskind's visit, the two men took a trip to Jerome, Arizona.  Siskind made a number of exposures on this trip, including the oft-reproduced Jerome, Arizona 21 (Pleasures and Terrors, pl. 133).  The two also explored an abandoned hospital where Sommer, who had made the trip without a camera, came upon a pile of old X-rays, two of which he took back with him.  Later, in his darkroom, Sommer used these two 'found negatives' to make photographs, and it is possible that the print offered here is one of these.  Found Negative, created without the use of a camera, looks forward to the series of images Sommer would begin a decade later, in the late 1950s, made from synthetic negatives he created with paint and soot on a substrate of glass (see Lot 77) or cellophane (ibid., pp. 80-81).