The spring auction for Modern and Contemporary Photography on 30 May broke several records. With a lower estimate of EUR 988,000, a total turnover of EUR 1,190,000* was achieved, a record result for the photography auction at Grisebach, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The evening's top lot was a photogram by László Moholy-Nagy, a unique work from the artist's Weimar Bauhaus period, which was purchased by an American collector for EUR 490,000* against two other bidders (estimate EUR 300,000-500,000). This is the highest price ever realised in Germany for a single photograph.
There were high hammer prices for Peter Beard's "Ahmed Diptych", which went to a German private collection for EUR 62,500*, and for František Drtikol's pigment print "Composition", which was acquired by a Belgian collector for EUR 50,000*. The highest price jumps were recorded by vintages by Albert Renger-Patzsch (42,500 EUR*, estimate 5,000/7,000 EUR), Alfred Ehrhardt (11,250 EUR*, estimate 2,500/3,500 EUR), Bernd and Hilla Becher (12.500 EUR*, estimated price 4,000/6,000 EUR), Alexander Rodchenko (26,250 EUR*, estimated price 3,000/5,000 EUR) and Hugo Schmölz (4,000 EUR*, estimated price 400-600 EUR).
* all results incl. buyer's premium