Ways of Seeing: South African and International Photography

26 Aug 2024

Strauss & Co is pleased to announce the upcoming auction, “Ways of Seeing: South African and International Photography,” offering a unique opportunity to acquire works that explore the dimensions of personhood, subjectivity, and community through diverse photographic practices.

This historic sale — the first auction by Strauss & Co featuring photography exclusively — brings together a curated selection of prominent collections; Gary Eisenberg, Linda Givon, The Photographic Archival and Preservation Association and other properties.

“Ways of Seeing: South African and International Photography” includes a diverse array of images — ranging from intimate portraits to depictions of the physical and built environment — reflecting on the ethics of seeing and the dynamic interplay between viewer and subject.

Alongside an important suite of African photographers, the sale highlights some of the most significant international photographers in the history of the medium — Bill Brandt, Nan Goldin, Bettina Rheims, Sebastião Salgado, Viviane Sassen, Wolfgang Tillmans, Joel-Peter Witkin, André Kertész, Roman Vishniac, and Youssef Nabil. Many of these works are rarely seen in local collections and exhibitions.

The critique of the act of looking itself is rigorously explored in the works featured in this collection. From a series of works by a group of women and non-binary artists — Nan Goldin, Jillian Lochner, Zanele Muholi, and Bettina Rheims  — who invite us to consider personhood through the nude body, David Goldblatt and Mikhael Subotzky whose work explores contemporary South African history through spatial politics to Robin Rhode through his highly conceptual and playful images.

A significant portion of the sale features works from The Gary Eisenberg Collection, honouring his legacy as an immigration lawyer who devoted his life to justice before his recent passing. This inclusion is consigned with profound gratitude from his wife Dominique Eisenberg.

This extraordinary sale, dedicated entirely to this captivating medium, will take place on Wednesday 18th of September at 7pm. The sale forms part of September auction week which includes a special single-artist focus sale of Hylton Nel and Modern and Contemporary Art Evening sale both taking place on Tuesday 17th September.

“Ways of Seeing: South African and International Photography” is available for viewing at our Woodstock offices in Cape Town from Tuesday 27th August. The exhibition will be complemented by a series of events, including walkabouts and discussions.