Gelatin silver print
USA, 1974
Jean-Pierre Laffont (b. 1935) – Algerian photographer
Stamped artist’s signature lower right ‘JP Laffont’
Signed and numbered in ink on a label affixed to the reverse ‘No 6/30 JP Laffont’
Titled, inscribed and dated in typeset on a label affixed to the reverse ‘Ali vs Frazier Ali pointing his finger / 23 january 1974’
With artist’s copyright and red Galerie Grace Radziwill ink stamps verso
Dimensions: 15 x 20 5/8 in. (38.1 x 52.3 cm.)
Very good condition

Taken just before the second match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, this photograph by Jean-Pierre Laffont captures the high intensity of the scene. The second of three bouts, the match took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Surrounded by his team and members of the press, Ali is captured trash talking Frazier, his face frozen in mid-shout as his finger comes towards the camera lens. Ali went on to win this match, having lost the first in 1971, and also the third (and final) match in 1975.

Executed in 1974, this gelatin silver print is signed, titled, inscribed, dated and numbered six from an edition of thirty. With the artist’s copyright and red Galerie Grace Radziwill ink stamps verso, the work measures 15 x 20 5/8 inches.

Jean-Pierre Laffont (Algerian, b. 1935)

Born in Algeria in 1935, Jean-Pierre Laffont received his MFA from Arts et Metiers in Vevey, Switzerland. After serving in the French Army during the Algeria War, Laffont moved to Paris, working as a fashion and portrait photographer, as well as a special photograph on movie sets for MGM. In the late 1960s, Laffont moved to the United States to work as the staff photograph for Status Magazine and the US Correspondent for the French-based agency, Reporters Associes. In 1969, he became the first Foreign Correspondent for Gamma Agency and founded the US bureau of the company. In this role he covered major events, including the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, political campaigns, the Olympics, and others. In 1973, Laffont co-founded Sygma Photo News, the largest photography agency in the world which was acquired by the Corbis Corporation in 1999. Laffont’s images of child labor in third world countries awarded him “The Madeline Ross Award” and the World Press Award. His work has appeared in numerous major publications worldwide, including Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, London Sunday Times Magazine, and others.