Diane Arbus (1923–1971), Man and a Boy on a Bench in Central Park, New York City, 1962, Estimate: USD 7,000 - USD 9,000 — Diane Arbus (1923–1971), *Man and a Boy on a Bench in Central Park, New York City, 1962,* Estimate: USD 7,000 - USD 9,000

At Christie’s Auction House, artists like Diane Arbus, Herb Ritts, Stephen Shore, and more have their works present for sale until Oct. 28.

A particular standout photo is the “Man and a Boy on a Bench in Central Park, New York City,” taken in 1962 by photographer Diane Arbus, who died in 1971. Featuring the forlorn stare of a little boy in a too-big-tweed jacket and the mysterious smile of a man in a similar jacket, this silver gelatin print is a quintessential ‘60s piece. It juxtaposes the vibes of consternation and relaxation all at once, a feeling that can really only be attributed to New York City and especially Central Park where the fast-paced joggers and bikers are side-by-side picnickers and wide-eyed tourists. The bowties are enough to mark it a whimsical antique, accurately portraying the lives of the past.

Herb Ritts (1952–2002), Male Nude with Tumbleweed, Paradise Cove, 1986, Estimate: USD 4,000 - USD 6,000 — Herb Ritts (1952–2002), *Male Nude with Tumbleweed, Paradise Cove, 1986,* Estimate: USD 4,000 - USD 6,000

Another stunning portrait is by photographer Herb Ritts (1952-2002) titled, “Male Nude with Tumbleweed,” taken in Paradise Cove in 1986. Sepia-toned silver gelatin print, the photo features a male Adonis lifting a tumbleweed like a crown over his head. His carefully positioned body angled to imitate the cut and structure of an Ancient Greek statue, reminding audiences of Ritts’ experience framing models’ bodies. The beach and the ocean look stunning in a beige tone, all at once complementing the focus of the piece and drawing the audience’s attention to its infinite serenity. It makes audiences wonder, what’s beyond the ledge.

Stephen Shore (B. 1947), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 5, 1978, Estimate: USD 7,000 - USD 9,000 — Stephen Shore (B. 1947), *Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 5, 1978,* Estimate: USD 7,000 - USD 9,000

Stephen Shore is another artist present in the Aperture Auction. His chromogenic contact print takes you back to March 5, 1978, a sunny day in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the boats are lined up and parked neatly. The perfectly coifed lawn is a sepia-toned green belying the sharp color of real life. Yet, Shore still succeeds in portraying the banalest scenes and objects in the United States in a captivating, eye-pleasing way. One cannot help but be drawn to the man unmooring his boat or the closely placed signs lining the bottom of the frame. The most common might be the hardest to photograph in a compelling format, but Shore seems to have no problem while also experimenting with beautiful color photography.

Gillian Laub (B. 1975), Seniors arriving at the first integrated prom, Lyons, Georgia, 2010, Estimate: USD 3,000 - USD 5,000 — Gillian Laub (B. 1975), *Seniors arriving at the first integrated prom, Lyons, Georgia, 2010,* Estimate: USD 3,000 - USD 5,000

“Seniors arriving at the first integrated prom,” taken in Lyons, Georgia, in 2010 is another exceptional piece of artwork. This photograph comes from Gillian Laub’s collection, titled Southern Rites. It shows the nervous bodies of three Black individuals as they prepare the first integrated prom in Montgomery County in Georgia. In an article for The New York Times, Laub provided these photos to act as context explaining the longstanding tradition of segregated proms. Even though many students actually hang out with both Black and white peers at school, they still attend different proms due to the individual parents’ committees that plan the proms. They stylish teenagers look out of place in the countryside, putting on their own fashion show for nobody but the trees to see, but the importance of the moment is not lost as the dolled-up teens get ready for arguably the most important night of their teenage years.

Nan Goldin (B. 1953), Simon on the Subway, New York , 1998, Estimate: USD 3,000 - USD 5,000 — Nan Goldin (B. 1953), *Simon on the Subway, New York , 1998,* Estimate: USD 3,000 - USD 5,000

Finally, the most stunning photo of them all might be Nan Goldin’s “Simon on the Subway, taken in New York City in 1998. The Cibachrome print is framed in a black, cinematic-reminiscent way. The longing look of Simon as he sits alone, head leaning back against the subway’s walls is enough of a glimpse into his mind for any New Yorker who’s ridden the subway alone before. You seem to enter this world of your own, absorbed in a thought or an image that will never leave you. This could easily be a scene from a movie or just a scene of someone’s daily life. The half lids of Simon are glaring tells of contemplativeness. One could stare at this photo for hours, equally entranced as Simon by what is in front of them.

Images provided by CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2020