Larry Clark

large-format, signed in ink on the reverse, 1968 (Tulsa, cover and unpaginated)

This early print, unusual for its size, is on double-weight paper with a surface sheen. It is in generally good condition. The edges are rubbed, and the corners are bumped. There are 4 small nicks in the emulsion. The left margin has a long vertical sharp handling crease that does not affect the image.
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.

This photograph, perhaps the most famous from Clark's Tulsa series, is presented here as a rare large-format print.  Clark's images from Tulsa are more frequently seen as later prints on 11-by-14-inch paper.  This early print, rendered large on 20-by-16-inch paper, magnifies the impact of this now-iconic image.   

The photograph shows Billy Mann, one of several friends and companions Clark documented from 1963 to 1971 in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Filled with gritty images of drugs, violence, and sex, Clark's photographs present a dystopian alternative to the youthful optimism of the 1960s.  Clark debuted these images in his landmark book, Tulsa, published by Ralph Gibson's Lustrum Press in 1971, and this picture of the gun-toting Billy Mann was chosen for the cover. Within the book, the photograph resides on its own double-page spread, across from a quote by Mann himself: 'death is more perfect than life.'  Mann died of a drug overdose in 1970, and the caption beneath the illustration reads simply, 'dead 1970.'