Paul Strand 1890-1976

a group of 5 photographs, comprising The Nile at Aswan; Market Day, Aswan; Water Wheel and Colossi, Gurna, Upper Egypt; Zentet, Kalata, el-Kobra, Delta; and Koddabi, Middle Egypt, each with the photographer's numerical and/or printing notations on the reverse, flush-mounted to paper, the first signed, titled, and dated by the photographer in ink on the reverse, 1959 (Sixty Years of Photographs, pp. 114-15; Greenough, p. 163; Aperture Masters of Photography, p. 75) (5)

The photographer to Dr. Erhard Frommhold, Verlag der Kunst, Dresden

Acquired by the present owners from the above, 2006

Each of these enlargement prints is in generally very good to excellent condition. As is typical of Strand's work of the period, the prints' surface sheen is the result of a coating, possibly wax or varnish, that Strand favored in order to enhance the details of the image. Most of these prints exhibit edge wear and small emulsion loss. In raking light, tiny deposits of original retouching, and minor indentations and creasing are visible. All except 'Water Wheel' have 1/4-inch strips of adhesive remains on the reverse at the periphery. Each has small paper tape remnants, likely from prior matting or hinging. Individual condition issues are as follows: The Nile at Aswan - Visible in the lower right corner is a faint, quarter-round ink stamp with the word 'douane' (customs or duty). The photographer's numerical and printing notations on the back of the print, visible through the paper flush mount with the aid of light, are as follows: 'Ill,' 'F11-32,' 'Sky +,' and 'Sulfite,' indicating that Strand printed this on Kodak Illustrator's Special paper, with an F11 exposure aperture for 32 seconds, with additional exposure in the sky area, and sulfite added to the developer. Market Day, Aswan - Certain areas of this print, particularly the upper right and lower portion, have turned sepia in tone. The appearance is one of hand-coloring. The photographer's numerical and printing notations on the back of the print, visible through the paper flush mount with the aid of light, are 'Medal 3' and 'F11-37,' indicating that Strand printed this on Medalist paper, at an F11 aperture exposure for 37 seconds. Water Wheel and Columns of Memnon - The photographer's numerical and printing notations on the back of the print, visible through the paper flush-mount with the aid of light, are '2 Medalist 3,' '711-67,' 'Left Sky +25,' 'Amidol + Wat,' indicating that Strand printed this on Medalist paper, with an F11 aperture exposure for 67 seconds and an additional 25-second exposure for the left sky area, using Amidol and water for development. Zentet, Kalata, el-Kobra, Delta - The photographer's numerical and printing notations on the back of the print, visible through the paper flush mount with the aid of light, are 'Ill' and 'F11 40,' indicating that Strand printed this on Kodak Illustrator's Special paper, with an exposure aperture of F11 for 40 seconds. Koddabi, Middle Egypt - The photographer's numerical and printing notations on the back of the print, visible through the paper flush mount with the aid of light, are 'Ill' and '37 + F11,' indicating that Strand printed this on Kodak Illustrator's Special paper, with a 37-second exposure at an aperture of F11.
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.

The Egyptian studies presented here were all published in Strand's cultural study of mid-20^th-century Egypt, Living Egypt, with accompanying text by James Aldridge.  Taken in Egypt in 1959, Strand's photographs depict an ancient society in contest with industrialization, and comprised the fourth of Strand's series of five volumes of foreign lands and peoples.  The book was first published in 1969, in Dresden by Verlag der Kunst and in London by MacGibbon and Kee.

As the photographs offered here come originally from the collection of Dr. Erich Frommhold of Verlag der Kunst; it is possible that these are the very prints reproduced in the publication.