Plato, 1919

Details

CONSTANTIN BRÂNCUŞI (1876–1957)
Plato, 1919
gelatin silver print, mounted on card
embossed photographer's credit (recto/mount, recto); annotated 'H.P. Roché' in red ink (verso); annotated 'Roché personal' in pencil (mount, verso)
image/sheet: 8 5/8 x 6 5/8 in. (21.9 x 16.8 cm.)
mount: 15 7/8 x 12 7/8 in. (40.2 x 32.6 cm.)

Provenance

Sotheby's, New York, October 21, 1981, lot 23;
acquired from the above sale by the present owner.

Literature

Pontus Hulten et al., Brancusi, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1986, p. 125.

Special Notice

On occasion, Christie's has a direct financial interest in the outcome of the sale of certain lots consigned for sale. This will usually be where it has guaranteed to the Seller that whatever the outcome of the auction, the Seller will receive a minimum sale price for the work. This is known as a minimum price guarantee. This is such a lot.

Lot Essay

Brâncuși's wood sculpture, Plato, remained in-tact as depicted in the present image until 1923. The artist then destroyed the body of the figure, and displayed the remaining portion laid on its side as a new work, titled Head. The 'H.P. Roché' inscription in red ink on the reverse of this print indicates that Henri-Pierre Roché, the prominent writer, art collector and adviser involved with the avant-garde and dada movements in Paris, may have once owned this photograph.

The sculpture, Head, resides in the collection of Tate Modern, London.

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