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Contax II Walker Evans € 10.000*
no. C13823, c. 1940, condition B € 20.000 – 24.000
Between 1938 and 1941 Evans produced a series of portraits the most important photographers of the twentieth century
in the New York City subways. The camera his choice was and worked primarily in the US. His enormous artistic
a Contax II with a Sonnar 1.5/5 cm lens. It was strapped to influence has been recognized not only there, but also
his chest, with the lens peeking out between two buttons of internationally. He is best known for his work for the Farm
his winter coat. Evans painted the chrome elements of the Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of
camera black to make it more inconspicuous and used a the Great Depression on the rural population in the Mid
cable release hidden in his sleeve to trigger the shutter. 1930s. The portraits of the three families Fields, Borroughs
With this setup he succeeded in accomplishing a difficult and Tingle became icons of photography history. After
challenge in making truly unposed portraits and reached an 1945, Evans photographed, among others, American urban
unseen level of reality and intimacy characteristic to this landscapes and industrial buildings for magazines like
remarkable series of photographs. Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Architectural Forum, Life and
Fortune. Because of his documentary style, he is considered
The camera we have the pleasure to offer was displayed the forerunner of the German photographer couple Bernd
during several photo exhibitions in the U.S. This may be and Hilla Becher. In 1938 the MoMa organized the first
Som Berthiot for Leica M39 Flor 1.5/55 mm € 30.000 the most famous and distinctive camera used by the exhibition for a single photographer for Walker Evans:
no. 452055, 1950s, condition B/A € 60.000 – 70.000 photographer. Included in this lot is also a book by Evans American Photographs. Since then, many of his works are in
‘Many are Called’ (first edition 1966, hardcover), including permanent collections of museums or have been the subject
One of the rarest and most desirable third party lenses in showing some minor haze and light cleaning marks (not photographs made with this Contax II. of retrospectives at institutions such as the Metropolitan
the original, rangefinder-coupled Leica mount. Brass barrel affecting the photos). Only a handful of these special lenses Museum of Art, the George Eastman Museum, the Centre
finished in bright chrome, coupling made for Som Berthiot are known to exist. Walker Evans (1903 –1975) was an American photographer Pompidou, or, most notably at Museum of Modern Art, New
by A. Garneau, Paris (engraved accordingly), good optics and photojournalist. He is widely acknowledged as one of York and at the J. Paul Getty Museum in California, USA.
