21 May 11 Most Expensive Photos in History!
11. The Pond – Moonlight
Edvard Steichen – 1904
The artist created the early photograph by applying light-sensitive gums. This gave the final print more than one color.
There are three versions of The Pond -Moonlight. Each of them is unique because the layering of the gums is done by hands.
The photograph cost its buyer $2,928,000 in 2006. At the time, it was the highest price ever paid for a photo at an auction. The two other versions are exhibited in museums.
10. Untitled Film Still #48
Cindy Sherman – 1979
The photograph is part of a series that the artist made between 1977 and 1980.
Sherman herself appears as fictitious female characters in the 69 black and white photos. She used makeup, wigs and vintage dresses to recreate female clichés from films.
Photograph #48 was bought for $2,965,00 in 2015.
9. Untitled (Cowboy)
Richard Prince-2000
Prince’s work is a photo of a photo. He rephotographed pictures while he was developing his own style.
In this case, the image is from a Marlboro campaign, and it depicts the ‘Marlboro Man’. The piece was bought for $3,077,000 in 2014.
8. Chicago Board of Trade II
Andreas Gursky – 1999/2000
The picture exhibits the trading floor of the Board of Trade in Chicago. To express the sense of movement, Gursky double-exposed several parts of the image.
He often scanned the images and edited them on a computer.
The photo was auctioned for $3,298,755 in 2013.
7. 99 Cent II Diptychon
Andreas Gursky – 2001
Below is the chromogenic color print that was sold at Sotheby’s London in February 2007. The two-part photo depicts a supermarket with several aisles. Gursky altered the picture digitally.
What did it fetch? An astounding $3,346,456.
Surely it should have ended in .99 cents.
6. Jeff Wall – 1992
Here is the image in question, sold as transparency in light box.
It depicts a fictional scene with a battlefield. The soldiers are coming back to life, resembling a zombie horror movie.
This went on sale at Christie’s New York in May 2012.
It made a cool $3,666,500.
5. To Her Majesty
Gilbert & George – 1973
These photographic provocateurs created this installation as a Gelatin Silver print. The series of photos commemorate drunk evenings of the duo.
It went under the hammer at Christie’s London in June 2008.
It made $3,765,276 ($4,971,030.33 in today’s money).
4. Untitled 96
Cindy Sherman – 1981
Cindy Sherman is no stranger to expensive prints. This one netted her a welcomed $3,890,500 when it was auctioned at Christie’s New York in May 2011.
Sherman used the centrefolds of men’s erotic magazines as inspiration for this work. She appears as the complete opposite of a model who we would find in those pictures. Many people claim that her facial expression and body language shows vulnerability.
Sherman depicts rape and abuse in the photo. The model looks scared instead of being seductive. The image was presented as a Chromogenic color print.
3. Spiritual America
Richard Prince
It is one of the most controversial photos in history. It depicts the 10-year-old and naked Brooke Shields. Her childish body is in great contrast with her seductive and mature facial expression.
The police banned the work from the exhibition in the Tate Modern in London.
Ektacolor print. Sold at Christie’s New York in May 2014: $3,973,000
Note: This image features an undressed Brooke Shields as a child. We aren’t showing it here, so if you wish to see the photograph, you must follow this link to Christie’s website.
2. Rhein II
Andreas Gursky – 1999
Another chromogenic color print, but this time, costing an individual $4,338,500. The image shows the Lower Rhine. The river is depicted between green grass fields and under the overcast sky.
Gursky removed dog walkers and a factory building in digital editing.
Sold at Christie’s New York in November 2011, it was the held the world record for most expensive print ever sold until 2014.
1. Phantom
Peter Lik – 2014
This image is a black and white print of the famous Antelope Canyon in Arizona, USA.
It is unverified, as the buyer is ‘private and anonymous’. Its place as the costliest photo in the world is still the source of heated debates.
You may be tempted to think that Jeff Frost inched past Australian photographer Peter Lik by selling his image for $6.5 Million and ten cents.
Judging by his chosen counsel, it is nothing more than a prank.
Sources: expertphotography.com & wikipedia.org
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