Andreas Gursky: 99 Cent II Diptychon 2001 $3,346,456 Sotheby’s 2007
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Edward Steichen: Moonlight -1904 $2,928,000 Sotheby’s New York 2006
The 41x50cm photograph, depicts moonlight between trees and reflecting on a pond, and appears to be in color.
However, color photography did not begin until 1907, three years after the photograph was taken.
Steichen used layers of light-sensitive gum to create an impression of color. Only three prints exist |
Richard Prince: Cowboy -1989 $1,248,000 Christie’s New York, 2005
This modern cowboy is the most famous works by master photographer Richard Prince.
Cowboy was perhaps an odd choice as the first photograph to reach a million dollars at auction.
The photograph, which was taken in 1989 as part of a Marlboro ad. |
Diane Arbus: Identical Twins - 1967 $478,400 Sotheby’s New York, 2004
A strange and almost disturbing photo depicting twin
sisters in almost identical pose is said
to inspire the terrible "ghost twins" in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining |
Gustave Le Gray: The Great Wave -1857 $838,000 Sotheby’s London 1999
Le Gray is arguably the most important French photographer of the 19th Century.
This beautiful work was previously in the Jammes Collection until auctioned by Sotheby’s.
Le Gray marked the first time that a photographer managed to expose landscape and sky correctly in the same image. |
