George Platt Lynes - Walter Rockmer - Capsule Auctions

October 24, 2023

Prints, Photography, and Posters

Lot 59

Lot 59

George Platt Lynes

American (1907-1955)

Walter Rockmer (1940)

Medium

bromoil gelatin silver print

Dimensions

9 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches

Signature

artist stamp to verso

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000

Price Realized: $2,750
Includes buyer's premium

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Frame Information: unframed
Provenance: Property from the Estate of Seymour Stein
Sotheby's sticker affixed to mat
Condition: overall good condition, with some light handling wear to edges, including minor creases/losses, and minor loss to upper left corner

George Platt Lynes

American 1907-1955

George Platt Lynes was a photographer known for his work in the realms of fashion, portrait, and fine art photography. He made important contributions to fashion photography during his career. He worked with leading fashion magazines including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, producing striking and innovative images that helped shape the genre.

Lynes was celebrated for his portrait photography, capturing the personalities and essence of his subjects. He photographed numerous prominent figures in the arts, including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau, and Tennessee Williams. Lynes also documented the world of dance and theater, capturing the work of choreographers and dancers such as George Balanchine and Martha Graham. He frequently collaborated with these same sitters and was himself an important figure in the New York arts scene. His work played a role in bridging the gap between photography and the broader art world.

He is perhaps best known for his artistic photographs of the male nude. At a time when homosexuality was largely considered taboo, his work unapologetically celebrated the male form. His male nude studies are renowned for their sensuality and artistry.

Lynes' open exploration of homosexuality and his artistic celebration of the male form had a profound impact on discussions around LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance. His work challenged societal norms and contributed to the broader cultural movement toward greater visibility and acceptance of diverse sexual orientations.

A selection from

The Estate of Seymour Stein

Image for Collection The Estate of Seymour Stein

Legendary Sire Records co-founder, Seymour Stein, kick-started the era of punk and new wave music in the 1970s and ‘80s, by signing to the label such iconic artists as the Ramones, The Smiths, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Ice-T, and famously, in 1982, Madonna. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

Beginning in the early 1970s, while traveling as a young businessman throughout Europe, Stein developed an enthusiasm for early 20th-century art. Wherever he went, he sought out antique stores, art fairs, and major auction houses — ultimately forging a vast collection.

The Collecting Eye of Seymour Stein, Sotheby’s 2003 auction showcased Stein’s interest in Art Deco furniture and porcelain, metalwork and glassware, European Symbolist and Pre-Raphaelite paintings. Works from the distinguished collection were also included in Sotheby’s 2018, Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite & British Impressionist Art, auction.

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