Hannes Kilian
Piccadilly Circus, London, 1955
Important Photographs from the Peter Fetterman Collection
Hannes Kilian
1909 - 1999
Piccadilly Circus, London, 1955
Vintage silver print. Signed by the artist in pencil; titled, dated and annotated by an unknown hand in pencil and with various copyright and reproduction stamps all on the verso. Matted. (unframed)
sheet: 30.5 by 23.5 cm.; 12 by 9½in.
This vintage print is in overall very good condition. Printed on Agfa paper. With various handling marks and pressure points on the image, only visible under raking light and in close inspection. Slight paper thinning in a small area verso. Four corners slightly bumped.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.
In his later life he came to specialize in dance photography and his special images of the Stuttgart Ballet made that ballet company famous throughout the world. But this image of Piccadilly Circus in the 1950’s just bowled me over. Of course that young man in the center of the image could have been me as it was a place I frequented often and his stance of dreaming and looking at the bright lights was one I often employed...well let’s just say for sake of argument it is me.
It is one of the greatest London photos I have ever seen. I was happy to see a print of it at an exhibition at Tate Britain a few years back called “Another London” where it was also on the catalogue’s back cover.” – Peter Fetterman