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black and white photograph of a man in a suit and bow tie
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1403 - Hervé, Lucien
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Estimate €400 - €600
Sale commission
Description
Hervé, Lucien Portrait of Walter Gropius. Silver gelatine print, c. 1960. Dimensions: 16 × 23 cm. Stamped ‘Hervé’ on the reverse. The head-and-shoulders portrait shows Walter Gropius (1883–1969) in profile, facing right. The architect is shown in his later years, wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and a polka-dot bow tie. His gaze is downcast and pensive. The frame is tight, and the head fills almost the entire portrait format. The harsh side lighting brings out the contours of the face and the texture of the hair in a three-dimensional way. Against the neutral, dark background, the portrait appears focused and serene. Lucien Hervé was born László Elkán in Hungary and had lived in Paris since 1929. From 1949 until Le Corbusier’s death in 1965, he was the architect’s official photographer. Their close collaboration began following the photograph of the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille. Hervé also photographed works by Marcel Breuer, Alvar Aalto, Oscar Niemeyer and Walter Gropius. His style is characterised by strong contrasts, austere framing and abstraction. He drew inspiration from the Bauhaus and the avant-garde. In addition to architecture, he also produced portraits. Portrait of Walter Gropius. Gelatin silver print, circa 1960. Size: 16 × 23 cm. Hervé’s stamp on the reverse. This head-and-shoulders portrait shows Walter Gropius (1883–1969) in profile, facing right. The architect appears to be of advanced age, wearing a dark suit, a white shirt and a dotted bow tie. His gaze is lowered and pensive. The framing is tight, and the head fills almost the entire vertical format. Harsh, raking light sculpts the face and the texture of the hair into a three-dimensional relief. Set against a neutral, dark background, the portrait feels focused and calm. Lucien Hervé was born László Elkán in Hungary and lived in Paris from 1929. From 1949 until Le Corbusier’s death in 1965, he was Le Corbusier’s official photographer. A close collaboration began after Hervé photographed the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille. He also photographed works by Marcel Breuer, Alvar Aalto, Oscar Niemeyer and Walter Gropius. His style is characterised by strong contrasts, austere cropping and abstraction, and he drew inspiration from the Bauhaus and the avant-garde. Alongside architecture, he also took portraits. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to standard taxation. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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