Vintage silver gelatin print; press print
Dusseldorf, 1961
Erich Lessing (b. 1923) – Austrian photographer
Titled with pencil ‘Affluence – Europe. Königsallee, Dusseldorf […]‘ on the verso
Copyright stamp ‘© Erich Lessing – magnum‘, archive stamp of the Magnum Photo Library, New York, the archive number ‘61-18-06/3‘ and a further stamp on the verso
Sheet size: 20.3 x 29.8 cm
Good condition
Since 1951, Erich Lessing is a member of the world renowned photo agency ‘Magnum Photos’; the auction record for a photograph by Erich Lessing currently sets at 10,000 Euros
Object is regular taxed. Differential taxation is not possible.

Erich Lessing’s photographs are considered as an important contribution to the documentation of the post-war period in Germany. The present vintage press print shows a number of parking cars along the magnificent Dusseldorf boulevard called ‘Königsallee’. The second car of the row features a Mercedes-star on top of the hood, which may be rated as one of the typical symbols of recurring prosperity during the postwar era. The picture belongs to Erich Lessing’s series ‘Affluence in Europe’.

The photograph is verso titled with pencil ‘Affluence – Europe. Königsallee, Dusseldorf – probably richest street in city – many Mercedes Benz cars – the ‘local Volkswagen’ ’. Besides, the verso also shows the copy right stamp ‘© Erich Lessing – magnum’, the archive stamp ‘Magnum Photo Library Print New York. Print Ref: [not inscribed]. Log Ref: 24790. To be returned’, the archive number ‘61-18-06/3’ and a further stamp ‘This print is not to be mounted or airbrushed’. Three corners of the photo paper are slightly affected by blemishes with small losses of material. There are some scattered small superficial stains lower center. The image size is equal to the sheet size of 20.3 x 29.8 cm.



Erich Lessing (b. 1923)

Born in Vienna, Erich Lessing is one of the most important photographers in Austria. His career began in the late 1940s, when he worked as a photojournalist for the ‘Associated Press’. In 1951, Lessing became a member of the famous Parisian photo agency ‘Magnum photo agency’, founded by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, David ‘Chim’ Seymour and George Rodger in 1947. Moreover, Lessing was engaged by the main European newspapers and magazines such as ‘Life’, ‘Paris Match’ or ‘Epoca’. In his oeuvre, Lessing documented a number of milestones of history of the 20th century. As a portraitist, he also accompanied prominent political personalities such as Charles de Gaulle, Konrad Adenauer and Willy Brandt. He recently opened his own photo gallery in Vienna and bequeathed his private archive of 60,000 pictures to the Austrian National Library. (cbo)

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