Field worker with sickle
Albumen print, 1870s
10/10; 164 x 110, on Giraudon's' printed mount
$3750.
Auguste Giraudon commissioned these studies from an artist who produced this series "in his leisure time", probably near Barbizon. This is one of the few sets of studies in the early history of photography to be a close emulation of Millet's paintings of field workers, which Van Gogh so revered that he copied them endlessly. The photograph series appears to have been short-lived in terms of publishing. None were found in the Giraudon archives nor were they listed in his period catalogues of various works for sale. Few Giraudon's Artist photographs were acquired by institutions in the 19th century and the work remained largely unknown until a very few groups of these images emerged during the past 30 years.
Gleaner
Albumen print, 1870s
Tonality- 9/10; 172 x 125 mm., mounted on Giraudon mount with printed 'Étude d'Après Nature' logo
$2500.
Auguste Giraudon commissioned these studies from an artist who produced this series "in his leisure time", probably near Barbizon. This is one of the few sets of studies in the early history of photography to be a close emulation of Millet's paintings of field workers, which Van Gogh so revered that he copied them endlessly. The photograph series appears to have been short-lived in terms of publishing. None were found in the Giraudon archives nor were they listed in his period catalogues of various works for sale. Few Giraudon's Artist photographs were acquired by institutions in the 19th century and the work remained largely unknown until a very few groups of these images emerged during the past 30 years.