Ernst Haas

chromogenic print, mounted, framed,  a Haas Studio, New York, label, with title, date, edition '3/30,' printing information, and signed by Alexander Haas, the photographer's son, in ink, on the reverse, 1952, printed later

'Images of a Magic City, Part II,' LIFE, 21 September 1953, Vol. 35, No. 12, p. 124

While this chromogenic print has not been examined out of its frame, it appears to be in generally excellent condition. The colors are vibrant, with no apparent fading. This photograph is framed.
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 image was included in LIFE Magazine’s ‘Images of a Magic City’ (1953), an unprecedented two-part series featuring 24 pages of Ernst Haas’s saturated color photographs of New York.  Taken over the course of two months, Haas’s images depict a multifaceted, vibrant city with equal parts humor and reverence. This image received a full-page illustration in the magazine, captioned ‘A giant key of a locksmith’s sign fits like a jigsaw puzzle piece into the pattern of a Third Avenue building.’  The railing of the Third Avenue elevated subway bisects this image.