The 4th edition of the Paris Photo Salon, which has been taking place between November 16th and 19th 2000 at the Carrousel du Louvre, will probably yield a $ 10 million turnover, organisers said. Some 95 galleries are participating in this event, now the most important in the world, which has attracted hundreds of foreign dealers at a time when the market has been booming more than ever. Last year, dealers had to meet increased demands for 19th Century photographs but now, new collectors are steadily going for contemporary prints.
Price records have been multiplying on the market with over 4700 transactions in 2000 against only 700 in 1991. As an indication the total turnover for photographs should reach $ 52 million this year against 10 million in 1995.
Auction prices are still going up in this sector, now considered as the most profitable for collectors though specialists fear a halt regarding such incredible progression due essentially to constant demands on prints by contemporary photographers, such as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, Andreas Gursky or Richard Prince.
It is a fact that many buyers are speculating in this specific sector where 36 % of transactions have been made for photos under $ 1,000 and 46% for those between $ 1,000 and 5,000. At present the market remains stable thanks to the active presence of new young collectors while prices for 19th Century shots are increasing. Still no one knows what are really reasonable price limits but the success of the Paris Salon should have positive repercussions on the market.
Man Ray (1890-1976) remains the most sought photographer on the market, ahead of Cindy Sherman (Born in 1954), E. Weston (1886-1958), André Kertesz (1894-1985), Ansel Adams (1902-1984), J. Outerbridge (1896-1958), Gustave Le Gray (1820-1884), Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989), Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946) and E. Steichen (1879-1973) in that order.
The highest price for a 19th Century photograph was for Gustave Le Gray's “Big Wave” of 1857, which fetched $ 618,400 at Sotheby's in 1999 in London ahead of the “Tree”, 1855, again by Le Gray, which sold for $ 513,150 during the same sale. Charles Sheeler's “Ford Works” of 1927 sold for $ 447,350 at Sotheby's in 1999 in New York, Gustave Le Gray's “Marine” of 1855 went for $ 368,420 at Bearne's, Devon, in 2000 and August Sander's “Brick carrier” of 1927, sold for $ 328,940 at Sotheby's in London in 1999.
Regarding contemporary photographs, Thomas Struth's “Pantheon, Rome” of 1992 fetched $ 223,680 at Christie's in 2000 in New York, Richard Prince's “Untitled Cowboy” of 1989, Cindy Sherman's “Untitled # 209” of 1989 and Thomas Struth's “Pantheon, Rome” of 1990 also sold respectively for the same price at Sotheby's-New York in 2000 while Richard Prince's “Untitled Double Portrait” of 1980 went for $ 184,420 again at Sotheby's.
Home
