Description
HE WAS AN AMERICAN FASHION AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WORKED FOR HARPER’S BAZAAR, VOGUE, AND ELLE SPECIALIZING IN CAPTURING MOVEMENT IN STILL PICTURES OF FASHION, THEATER AND DANCE. HERE, A RARE HAND-SIGNED “NASTASSJA KINSKI AND THE SERPENT” POSTER EXUDES A TIMELESS EROTICISM. THIS ICONIC IMAGE WAS TAKEN DURING A TWO HOUR SHOOT WHEN KINSKI WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF HER CAREER AND AVEDON WAS ALREADY A WORLD RENOWNED FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER. INTERTWINED WITH A BOA CONSTRICTOR, GRAPPLING WITH TEMPTATION, SEDUCTION AND POWER, KINSKI IS CLEARLY REFERENCING DEEPLY ROOTED CONCEPTS IN CLASSICAL ART AND MYTHOLOGY, MOST NOTORIOUSLY THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE AND THE SERPENT THAT TRICKED EVE TO TAKE AN APPLE FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.
RICHARD AVEDON (1923-2004) RARE HAND-SIGNED POSTER: NASTASSJA KINSKI AND THE SERPENT (1981), “Avedon”, 36 x 24.5, featuring Avedon’s classic image of the actress lying nude with a large boa constrictor, prominently hand-signed in thick pencil, with a huge signature that is the full length of the poster. Avedon’s stylistic innovations continue to influence photographers around the world. This same, signed, large size image, in a silver print photograph would sell for $70,000. The poster is affixed to a same-size cardstock mount and is in fine condition, with some scuffing along the edges from prior framing.
Nastassja Kinski is a German actress and former model who has appeared in more than 60 films in Europe and the United States. In 1981, Richard Avedon photographed Kinski with a Burmese python coiled around her nude body. The image, which first appeared in the October 1981 issue of US Vogue, was released as a poster and became a best-seller, further confirming her status as a sex symbol.
$1200 #12899ZWMR
