PHOTOGRAPHY
Paris as seen by four Photographers
Online auction: 8-26 February 2019
Tue 26 Feb 14:00 CET
Auction / Photography / Artprecium

This online specialized photography auction presents over 200 photographs of Paris as seen by the French photographers Marcel Louchet, the Séeberger brothers (both generations), Henriette Moulier and Claude Dityvon from 1909 to 1999. Through these four collections, we uncover another style of Humanist photography. These four photographers focus on portraying Paris with a graphic, picturesque visual vocabulary without focusing on a photojournalistic account of the post-war era in France. Rather than constructing politically and socially engaged scenes that recount both the hardships and the pleasures of daily life, we find a more snapshot-like narrative of life around this dynamic city. The artworks in this auction of Paris, its streets, its monuments and its daily life are more about the personal and original photographic styles of each photographer. With very attractive prices starting at 70€ these works will complete any private or public collection.

With this central subject of the city of Paris, each photographer’s unique gaze and photographic style is perfectly expressed:

Marcel Louchet creates photographic instances of his daily environment. As a “promeneur” photographer he plays with light and dark, changing outdoor atmospheres and varying angles, photographing the same setting several times in different conditions. The outcome is a refreshing walk across the city from dawn to dusk as if we were by his side. It is a treat to discover the work of this little-known photographer. (Lots 2, 29, 35, 44, 75, 84, 97 – 70€ each).

The few photographs we are presenting in this sale made by Henriette Moulier showcase a sensitive photographer that develops a personal style. A painterly haziness transforms each scene: an artist in Bagatelle, a woman selling flowers or a young man sleeping on a street corner. Moulier uses the city to develop her particular photographic style, framing the realism of life on the streets of Paris to tenderly tell each subject’s story. (Lot 116 – 100€).

The Séeberger brothers, Louis, Henri and Jules in the first generation use the city of Paris as a backdrop to document several historical events taking place during their lifetime, while Albert and Jean in the second generation change the course of fashion photography by breaking free from the studio. Through both generations’ photographs we share in the Séeberger’s personal experiences of life in Paris during the 20th century. Each generation carefully frames each scene and dramatically contrasts light and dark to create sharp images that regardless of their subject matter retain all of their emotion, sensuality and elegance. (Lots 118 – 250€, 120 – 100€, 171 – 70€, 177 – 150€, 190 – 200€)

MILLON finishes the auction with several photographs of Paris from 1966 to 1999 by Claude Dityvon. This visual poet-photographer masterfully composes his artworks to create surreal dream like scenes from common situations. With stark contrasts and a wide angle Dityvon transforms the Place de la Bastille so that the statue seems to take flight into the sun-setting sky. He enhances the blurred and “bougé” effect to animate and render abstract a silent night scene on an unnamed dock of the river Seine. Dityvon continues to construct his personal visual language by dramatizing encounters in the less glamorous Parisian neighborhoods, rendering the scenes cinematic. (Lots 205, 209, 213 – 230€)

The estimates are indicated without the buyer’s premium of 20%.

Photography auction online: Tuesday, 26 February, 2019

Online bidding: www.artprecium.com
Registration, bidding and auction tracking on www.artprecium.com
Only firm offers will be accepted.
Phone bidding is not available for this sale.

Online catalog:
www.millon.com |
Artprecium PDF (23 MB)

Public exhibitions:
17 rue de la Grange Batelière – 75009 Paris, France
Monday, February 25th 2019, from 11am until 6pm
Tuesday, February 26th 2019, from 11am until noon

Artprecium
17 rue de la Grange Batelière – 75009 PARIS
www.artprecium.com
+33 7 88 09 91 86
photographie@millon.com

Expert:
Christophe Gœury
Tel + 33 (0)6 16 02 64 91
chgoeury@gmail.com

Contact and inquiries:
Natalia Raciborski
MILLON Photography Department
16 rue de la Grange Batelière - 75009 Paris
Tel + 33 (0)7 88 09 91 86
photographie@millon.com