Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

pounds 379,000 - the costliest photo in the world

Clare Garner
Tuesday 06 October 1998 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

MAN RAY'S renowned image of his mistress holding an African mask was sold for a record pounds 379,000 yesterday - the highest price paid for any single photographic work at auction.

The 1926 Noire et Blanche, depicting the Surrealist painter and performer Kiki of Montparnasse, was first published in French Vogue. Yesterday it formed part of the first single-owner sale of photographs to be held at Christie's, New York, which fetched a total of pounds 1.2m. Noire et Blanche is best known by its positive version alone - shown above. Matching pairs of vintage prints of the positive and negative images, such as the pair sold yesterday, are considered extremely rare.

Two other record prices - for images by Margaret Bourke-White and Berenice Abbot - were established at the sale from Barry Friedman's photographic collection.

Clare Garner

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in