Photography Collection

Galerie Daniel Blau, Munich, Germany, exhibits at this year’s AIPAD Photography Show photographs from the 1850’s. With the public introduction of Photography in 1839 the illustration of works of art became one of the main interests of photographers. Our collection shows in beautiful examples by Le Gray, Baldus, Bisson Frères, Le Secq or Du Camp how they mastered sculpture and created a new art form. A catalogue is available on request. Another highlight is the newly discovered self-portrait of Gustave Le Gray from 1854. Gustave Le Gray is considered the most important and influential photographer of the second half of the 19th Century. His photographs are so rare and highly collectable that many have set record auction prices. Tournachon, Nègre, Mestral, Le Secq, Du Camp, Piot, and Bilordeaux were among the many successful and renowned photographers who either studied with him or sought his professional advice. Le Gray participated in the Mission Héliographique of 1851 with Mestral, Baldus, Le Secq, and Bayard. The self-portrait of Le Gray that we are exhibiting at AIPAD 2008 is a true discovery, having been found last year at a small auction. There are very few portraits of Gustave Le Gray and they are mainly in museum collections. The self-portrait was taken with the help of Le Gray’s young student, A. Delaunay, who also inscribed the mount. In 1854 photographic chemicals were still very slow. It is all the more surprising to see Le Gray’s expression, talking, laughing, perhaps even telling young Delaunay to hurry up and cover the lens. This is Le Gray as we have not seen him before.

The AIPAD Photography Show New York will run from Thursday, April 10 through Sunday, April 13, 2008, at the Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street in New York City.