Shades of Grey: Prints & Photography Auction

featuring exceptional monochromatic prints and photography

Shades of Grey brings together the very best prints and photography under the harmonized palette of the black-and-white, significant “must haves” to complement any collection. This specially-curated auction features highly sought after works by major masters of both mediums from 19th century legends to today’s avant-garde contemporary artists.

Shades of Grey as a theme celebrates the finest monochromatic prints and photography, covering a range of notable styles from the abstract art of Dame Barbara Hepworth (lot 12) to the architecturally inspired contemporary photography of James Nizam (lot 27) – a selection, exclusively chosen for this sale.

The leading lot in the auction is David Bailey’s coveted Box of Pin-Ups – a rare, complete collection of 36 photographs dating from 1965 (lot 1). This portfolio is a seminal photographic treatise celebrating the cult of celebrity and fashion. This portrait ensemble features superstar icons such as Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Michael Caine and David Hockney among others. Exceptionally complete portfolios such as this are scarce and we’re very excited about presenting this to the market.

Two other key lots by trailblazing artists from both the printmaking and photography world include: Sybil Andrews’s Canon (sic) Street – Railway Bridge (lot 20) and Helmut Newton’s Portrait of Violetta (lot 23). A pioneering force in the art of printmaking, Canon (sic) Street is one of Andrews’s earliest etchings. In this work dating from her early career, Andrews explores a fascination with the modern transport age, a theme that was to become iconic of the artist’s career as a whole. Helmut Newton’s photography revolutionized the intimacy of the female nude and beauty and Portrait of Violetta was produced at the height of his fame. To this day, Newton’s photographs from this seminal period remain highly sought after by collectors.

Other notable highlights include graphics by iconic modern masters such as Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore and Joan Miro; whose legendary individualistic styles are captured in these prints.

Shades of Grey offers something for every collector. Our auction contains fascinating and groundbreaking artwork by well-known artists at affordable price points all brought together by the enigmatic palette of the monochromatic, grisaille and black-and-white.

Register and bid here