Description:

Lucien Clergue (French, 1934-2014). "Acrobate a la Porte, Arles" silver gelatin print, 1955. Edition of 30. Hand-signed at lower right beneath image. An enticing silver gelatin print by world-renowned photographer Lucien Clergue depicting a young saltimbanque or acrobat standing in a doorway amongst piles of rubble; the ruins of the Arles after the bombing of France during World War II. This photograph comes from a collection of images of circus people created by the photographer at the young age of 21. In this collection, Clergue stages his characters amongst the wreckage of not only his hometown, but notably the debris of his own house as well. The contrast of character and setting - a circus performer in the ruins of war - express the artist's need to create in a world of silence where time itself seems frozen. Size of image: 10.5" W x 14" H (26.7 cm x 35.6 cm); of frame: 18.6" W x 22.6" H (47.2 cm x 57.4 cm)

About the artist: "Clergue was an internationally recognized art photographer who established his career by photographing circus members, musicians, and harlequins in Southern France. Alongside other creatives who advocated for the recognition of photography as a legitimate art form - including Roland Barthes, Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, and Edward Steichen - Clergue's work became a blueprint for art photography.

His intention to fashion himself as an artist was clear from the outset, as he rejected commercial work in favor of projects that captured specific ideas and forms. Clergue photographed a range of subjects, including female nudes, animals, street scenes, and intimate portraits of Modern artists and friends like Cocteau and Picasso—almost always in black and white.

Although Clergue did not receive a formal postsecondary education, he learned photography in his early teenage years and began working with Picasso at nineteen. Clergue's work has been exhibited at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Marmottan Museum, Paris; Art Institute of Chicago; Jackson Fine Art, Atlanta; and Kunstgewerbemuseum, Zurich. Clergue's work is primarily held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Fogg Museum, Harvard University. The artist worked with writer Michel Tournier and historian Jean-Maurice Rouqette to found the Rencontres d'Arles, an internationally-known photography festival in his hometown of Arles. In 2006, Clergue became the first photographer to be elected to the French Academy of the Arts in Paris." (Bate Museum of Art website, "Lucien Clergue Biography")

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, acquired from Throckmorton Fine Art, New York, New York USA, April 1, 2017

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#189821

  • Condition: Set behind glass in custom matte and frame with suspension wire on verso for display. Has not been examined outside of glass but frame and photograph appear to be in excellent overall condition. Hand-signed at lower right beneath image.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

SHIPPING LOGISTICS: As a courtesy to our clients worldwide, Artemis Gallery is happy to handle shipping for most lots sold, taking the hassle (and high cost!) out of having to arrange shipping on your own. Shipping costs will be added to your invoice at auction's end based on information given when you registered to bid - we strive to offer the most economical shipping costs to ensure safe transit. Our shippers of choice are DHL for International shipments and UPS for domestic shipments, but we are able to ship via other carriers at the buyer's expense as deemed necessary or by request.

For shipments of oversize items, Artemis Gallery will assist the buyer in working with a third-party shipping provider. For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country, and this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding.

Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value - no exceptions.

November 22, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000