Property of LAGUNA ART MUSEUM,
formerly in THE ESTATE OF PAUL OUTERBRIDGE, JR.,
Sold to Benefit the Museum's Acquisitions Fund
Lots 273 - 302 represent the final selection of works by the American Modernist photographer, Paul Outerbridge, Jr. formerly in the artist's estate and the property of Laguna Art Museum (now known as Orange County Museum of Art). The response to the initial selection last April was extraordinary and served to revive a latent interest in Outerbridge's life and work. With this sale Outerbridge's career is equally well represented by images from the two decades of the 1920s and 30s which defined his most prodigious period. Subjects that held his fascination such as perfectly balanced yet dynamically designed still lifes and voluminous but sensuous nudes are offered here as well.
As our audience for the April 23, 1996 sale knows well, Laguna Art Museum's collection of Paul Outerbridge, Jr.'s photographs was given by the artist's widow, Lois Cunningham Outerbridge, in 1968. The collection had been featured in the exhibition Paul Outerbridge: A Singular Aesthetic, Photographs and Drawings 1921 - 1941 which travelled internationally from 1981 through 1983. It is to the Museum's credit that the exhibition was kept active and continued to tour through 1990. No other vehicle has as broadly informed the public of this once forgotten figure.
Paul Outerbridge produced few prints from his negatives. His meticulous printing habits left little room for large editions of platinum prints. At the most, less than a dozen prints exist for any one image but with the majority usually less than a handful are known. In the case of the Carbro prints in particular, no more than one or two prints were made of most images due to the tremendous cost involved in the complex process.
Due to the rarity of each of the following lots by Paul Outerbridge, we have stated an approximate number of extant prints taking into account the lot offered. We have included works known to us held in museum and private collections.
Christie's again gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Mr. G. Ray Hawkins of the G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, Santa Monica for his assistance in preparing this information. Mr. Hawkins has owned the Paul Outerbridge, Jr. Archives for over 20 years.
PAUL OUTERBRIDGE, JR. (1896-1958)
Details
PAUL OUTERBRIDGE, JR. (1896-1958)
Kitchen Table
Platinum print. 1921. Signed and dated in pencil on the mount; Laguna Beach Art Association label and typed label with notation: "Kitchen Table" Appeared as a full page in Vanity Fair and later in Die Damme in Berlin affixed to the reverse of the mount. 4 5/8 x 3½in. Framed.
Kitchen Table
Platinum print. 1921. Signed and dated in pencil on the mount; Laguna Beach Art Association label and typed label with notation: "Kitchen Table" Appeared as a full page in Vanity Fair and later in Die Damme in Berlin affixed to the reverse of the mount. 4 5/8 x 3½in. Framed.
Provenance
The Estate of Paul Outerbridge, Jr.
Literature
Howe and Hawkins, Paul Outerbridge, Jr., p. 60 (there titled Milk Bottle and Eggs); Dines, A Singular Aesthetic, p. 41, pl. 1.
Exhibited
Paul Outerbridge: A Singular Aesthetic, Photographs & Drawings, 1921 - 1942, Laguna Beach Museum of Art, November 21, 1981 - January 10, 1982 and 12 other venues.
Further details
Lots 273-302 may be exempt from sales tax, as set forth in the sales tax notice at the front of this catalogue.