Herbert Matter (American/Swiss, 1907–1984)

LOT ID: 77154

Light Drawing, 1943

Silver Print, gelatin silver print

23 х 20 in. (58.42 x 50.8 cm.)

Stamped, verso

Print/Casting Year 1943

Lot description

Herbert Matter, Light Drawing, 1943. Vintage gelatin silver print, 23 x 20 inches (58.4 x 50.8 cm). Stamped.

This print was exhibited at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in 1943 at Matter's first solo exhibition of his photographs.

To create this image, Matter used a small flash light to draw the image on the back of a 4 x 5 negative by opening the back of the camera, then he photographed an image of 'open' space on the same negative. In the printing he doubled, solarized, reprinted and reverse printed various parts of the image to create multiple layers.

This image incorporates many of Matter's most striking techniques. Light Drawing reinforces the idea that Matter was creating the photographic equivalent of abstract expressionism. There's a sense of movement, action and rhythm.

Herbert Matter (1907-1984) was a Swiss-born American photographer and graphic designer known for his pioneering use of photomontage in commercial art. The designer's innovative and experimental work helped shape the vocabulary of 20th-century graphic design. As a photographer, Matter won acclaim for his purely visual approach. A master technician, he used every method available to achieve his vision of light, form and texture. Manipulation of the negative, retouching, cropping, enlarging and light drawing are some of the techniques he used to achieve the fresh, enigmatic form he sought in his still lifes, landscapes, nudes and portraits.

Literature and Catalogue Raisonné
Literature and Catalogue Raisonné
Publication:

May 1944 cover of Arts and Architecture.
Condition Report
Condition Report
No condition report has been added for this lot. Please contact the specialist for further information.
History and Provenance
History and Provenance
Provenance:
Estate of Herbert Matter, New York

Exhibition:
Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, 1943.
Shipping Information
Shipping Information
Shipping Carrier:
tbd

Shipping Weight: 3 lbs

Framing: No

Item Location: New York, USA

Shipping Options:
Shipping weight is approximate, buyer pays shipping, handling, and insurance and all applicable taxes and duties.
Payment and Return Policies
Payment and Return Policies
artnet Assurance Policy:
Every artnet Auctions seller has been approved by artnet after a thorough review. All of our sellers are required to accept the following artnet policy: A buyer may return an item purchased through artnet Online Auctions, if the item received is not as described in its listing, or is found to be not authentic.
Please see our full Return Policy for details.

Purchase Now

You are purchasing this lot for US$3,300.*

Click Continue to place your order.

*The purchase now price excludes taxes (if applicable) and a 20% buyer's premium on all lots under US$250,000 and a 10% buyer's premium on all lots with a winning bid or purchase now price of US$250,000 or above.

Purchase Now

Congratulations, you have purchased a lot on artnet Auctions!

Proceed to Items Won >

SmartBid

CONFIRMATION

The artnet SmartBid Service will automatically bid on your behalf up to US$.

artnet SmartBid will immediately meet the reserve price if your maximum bid is over the reserve. If the lot does not have a reserve price, it will immediately bid to the next increment level.

artnet SmartBid will then raise your bid up to your maximum bid by increment. But it will never raise your bid above the reserve price unless other bidders placed competitive bids on the lot.

Click Bid Now to place your bid.

SmartBid

Enter your maximum bid below. It must be US$ or higher:

Maximum bid: US$

*The maximum bid excludes taxes (if applicable) and a 20% buyer's premium on all lots with a winning bid under US$250,000 and a 10% buyer's premium on all lots with a winning bid or purchase now price of US$250,000 or above.

How does bidding work?