Photography is one of the most powerful artistic mediums: framing reality in a way that illuminates deeper truths. As the world grapples with the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis, photos provide a look back at the past and give us strength for the future. Sotheby's April Photography auction recently fetched US$3 million (£2.4 mil), the highest total for an online sale of photography at the auction house, demonstrating that photographs are as meaningful and important now than ever.
The sale featured 227 images by the world's most legendary photographers, such as Cindy Sherman, Annie Leibovitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams.
See also: The Female Look: 11 Women Who Changed Photography
The top sold lot was a photogram cover for the magazine Broom (1922) by László Moholy-Nagy, the Bauhaus painter and photographer, which sold for $524,000 (£420,000). Other important lots included Dorothea Lange's Six Tenant Farmers Without Farms, Goodlet, Hardeman County, Texas, which sold for $77,500 (£62,000), double the low estimate, and Alfred Steiglitz's The Hand of Man that achieved $137,500 (£110,137).
See also: The Art of Food Photography
However, top photographers' work also sold for accessible price points like Henri Cartier-Bresson's On the Banks of the Marne, which sold for $5,625 (£4,500) or Shell by Edward Weston for $4,750 (£3,800).
See also: A Record Auction, Booming Sales and Positive Signs, Thanks to Digital
Here, we asked Emily Bierman, vice president of Sotheby's, a few questions about this sale and the trend of photography:
Have you seen an increase in the interest in photography recently? Why do you think this is?
There is tremendous room for growth in collecting photographs. Nearly half of the bidders in our recent Photographs online auction were new to us, either to the category or to the company. That’s really encouraging when you think about where the market might be able to go in the next several years. While six- and seven-figure photographs are the ones that are the most news-worthy, the vast majority of the market remains incredibly accessible. Although prices ranged this season from $875 to $524,000, the average sold lot value was around $20,000 and new buyers often are drawn to the approachable price point. There is also an immediacy to photography that really resonates with collectors of every age.
Where were the buyers from for this auction?
There was incredibly diverse buying, with bidding participation spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia. I am always fascinated by where the new buyers pop up, be it New York, Florida, Italy, or China. There were opportunities at every price point, from under a thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars, so there really was something for everyone this season.
See also: The Most Expensive Living Artists
How do you think COVID-19 affected the sales?
I think for many collectors – both new and old – the Photographs online auction was a welcome distraction. Even in these uncertain times, we can all still appreciate how special it is to be surrounded by art. From the safety and comfort of your home, you could look at photographs spanning the history of the medium; you could ask our specialists questions; and, ultimately, you could bid on these works to own them. Knowing that people were at home and spending increased time surfing online, we produced additional editorial and video to enhance the Sotheby’s Photographs online experience.