Berenice Abbott, Changing New York

1. Fifth Avenue Bus. Washington Square, Manhattan. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “Fifth Avenue Bus. Washington Square, Manhattan. : 12/21/1936. : [Neg. #] 174 : [Code] II.A.2-P2.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94725 $7,500.00

BERENICE ABBOTT Changing New York VOLUME LXXVIII

September - October 2018

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2. Newsstand. 32nd Street and 3rd Avenue, Manhattan. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1935. Printed on single weight paper c.1935. Inscribed on verso “News Stand. 32nd Street and 3rd Avenue, Manhattan. : [Neg. #] 15 [Code] III.H : November 19, 1935.” Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition, corners rubbed, crack lower right. #94736 $6,500.00

3. Pawn Shop 48 3rd Avenue, Manhattan. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso “Pawn Shop 48 3rd Avenue, Manhattan : 2/6/37 : [Neg. #] 202 : [Code] III B.” Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94677 $6,500.00

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Robert K. Newman, Editor

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NUMBER 1

BERENICE ABBOTT (1898-1991) Changing New York Bernice Abbott was born in Springfield, Ohio, on July 17, 1898. She attended Ohio State University in Columbus with the goal of being a journalist but left after one year and moved to New York City. In the city she joined several friends associated with the Provincetown Players in Greenwich Village, where she worked small parts in plays and did modeling to support herself. Photography was not on her agenda at this time; her dream was to be a sculptor. Working as a model she posed for the photographers Man Ray and Nickolas Muray. She became close friends with Man Ray, who later on would bring her into photography. During the late teens in New York, she also participated in Dadaist publications and met Marcel Duchamp.

Abbott was seeking creative freedom, New York City and most of America did not offer that to women at the time. In 1921 after her recovery from influenza, she moved to Europe and studied sculpture in Berlin and Paris. In 1923 she was living and looking for work in Paris. Her friend Man Ray hired her to be his assistant in his photographic studio. Abbott took to the new medium of photography quickly.

Man Ray introduced her to other photographers including Eugène Atget, whose photographs of Paris captured her interest. In 1926 Berenice Abbott had her first single artist exhibition and opened her photographic studio in Paris.

continued on pages 9 and 11

EXHIBITION SEPTEMBER 22 THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2018 IN OUR SECOND FLOOR GALLERY.

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4. “El” Station, 9th Avenue Line, Christopher Street, Manhattan. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936. Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “El” Station, 9th Avenue Line, Christopher Street, Manhattan. : 6/18/36 : [Neg. #] 137 : [Code] II A-2.f.2.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94675 $6,500.00

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5 . “El,” Sixth Avenue Line, 28th Street Station. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938.

Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “El,” Sixth Avenue Line, 28th Street Station. : Nov 10, 1938 : [Neg. #] L-33 : [Code] II A 2 f 2.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print.

Good condition, stamped on face two times “Proof.” #94574 $7,500.00

6. Third Avenue Car Barns [Variant]. Third Avenue and 65th Street. The tracks for the Third Avenue El are in the foreground. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Photographed October 8, 1936. Not stamped but from “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print.

Good condition. #94740 $4,200.00

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7. Gunsmith. (6 Center Market Place, Manhattan, between Broome and Grand Streets.) Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso. “Gunsmith : 6 Center Market Place. : Manhattan : Neg.-203 Code III1.H.1 : 2/4/37.”

The Gun Shop “Humane Police Equipment, Inc.” is still at 6 Center Market Place. Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott”. 10 x 8” (25.3 x 20.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #24963 $19,000.00

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8. Hester Street. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938. Printed on heavy paper c.1938.

Inscribed on verso “Hester Street. : Between Allen and Orchard Streets, Manhattan : May 3, 1938 : [Neg. #] l-2 : [Code] III.3.1.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition, stamped on face “Proof.” #94577 $7,500.00

9. Luchow’s Restaurant. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938. Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “Luchow’s Restaurant. : 110 East 14th Street, Manhattan : October 26, 1938 : [Neg. #] L-22 : [Code] I.A.1.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition, stamped on face “Proof.” #94576 $5,500.00

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10. Jefferson Market Court, Southwest Corner, Sixth Avenue and West 10th Street.

Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1935. Printed on heavy paper c.1935. Inscribed on verso.

“Jefferson Market Court: South West corner of Sixth Avenue: and West 10th Street Manhattan. : Looking North from South East Corner of Sixth Avenue and West 9th Street: Oct, 21, 1935 : [Neg. #] 20 [Code:] IA. Stamped with artist’s name verso. Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” Image size 10 x 8” (25.3 x 20.3 cm) contact print. Very good condition. #29754 $7,500.00

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continued from page 3

She was successful. Some of her portrait commissions included James Joyce, Jean Cocteau, Peggy Guggenheim, and Eugène Atget. She photographed Atget just before his death in 1927 and soon thereafter acquired his estate of photographs and negatives.

Berenice Abbott returned to New York in 1929 to find a publisher to document the work of Eugène Atget. Finding a publisher proved difficult; however, Abbott found that New York City had changed dramatically in the years that she had been in Europe. She became captivated with the city and wanted to document it as Atget had done in Paris. She sought a backer for her ambitious project to photograph New York City, a project she called “Changing New York.” She acquired a Century Universal camera which makes a large format 8x10-inch negative. She then worked on the project while looking for financial support for the project. In 1933 she was hired to teach photography at the New School of Social Research. In 1934 the Museum of the City of New York gave her a single artist exhibition. This exhibition led the Federal Art Project, a division of the WPA, to hire her as supervisor for her “Changing New York” project. The Museum of the City of New York was to receive the negatives and Abbott hired assistants to document the locations and print from the negatives.

11. Spring and Greenwich Streets. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938. Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “Spring & Greenwich. : Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print.

Fair condition, some discoloration in the upper margin center into the image. #94718 $4,500.00

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12. Starrett Lehigh Building II. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938. Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “Starrett Lehigh Building II. 601 West 26th Street, Manhattan : From Eleventh Avenue and 23d Street looking northeast past the West Side Express Highway. : March 1, 1938. : [Neg. #] 286 : [Code] I.A.3” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94726 $5,000.00

13. Union Square West, Nos. 31-41. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938. The tall buildings are #31 The Metropolis Bank built in 1903, #33 The Union Building built in 1893, and #41 The Hartford Building built in 1895. Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “Union Square West, Nos 31-41 : Manhattan : Oct 26, 1938 : [Neg. #] 307 [Code] I.A.1.”

Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott” in brown ink. 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #27090 $8,000.00

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Most of the prints are contact prints from the 8x10-inch negatives. On a rare occasion in the 1930’s, enlargements were made.

The Century Universal 8x10-inch camera is not an easy piece of photographic equipment to use. The support equipment is heavy and the set up time for a shot is lengthy.

However, the image quality that a large format camera offers is unsurpassed. Abbott shot 695 negatives of 307 locations in New York City between 1935 and 1939. The negatives and many prints from the Federal Art Project are in the Museum of the City of New York. As an artist, Berenice Abbott combined her early training, interest in the Dadaist movement and sculpture, and how to look at a three-dimensional form in a two-dimensional format. She carefully chose her subjects and composed them to show her opinion of the subject. As is usual with a large format camera, she took several shots, often moving the camera slightly to get a different angle.

Changing New York was published in 1939. Abbott chose ninety-seven of her 695 negatives as images in this publication. Descriptions were written by her close friend, Elizabeth McCausland, and the book was published by E. P. Dutton & Co. She then resigned her position in the Federal Art Project.

Although not part of the Changing New York series, Berenice Abbott photographed for my grandfather and grandmother in the 1940’s. She did family portraits, photographed my aunt’s wedding, and many shots of The Old Print Shop

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14. Hell Gate Bridge. I. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “Hell Gate Bridge: I : Central Steel Arch over : East River : Looking West from : Astoria Park, Queens : May 25, 1937 : [Neg. #] 246 [Code] II.A.4.B.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25119 $5,500.00

15. Under Riverside Drive Viaduct. (145th Street and 12th Avenue.) Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso “Under Riverside Drive Viaduct : 145th Street and 12th Avenue : Manhattan : [Neg. #] 274 [Code] IIA-4 : November 10, 1937.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25014 $7,000.00

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16. Burns Brothers Coal Elevator and U.S.S. Illinois : Armory for Naval Reserves.

(West 135th Street Pier.) Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso “Burns Brothers Coal Elevator and U.S.S. : Illinois: Armory for Naval Reserves : West 135th Street Pier : Manhattan : [Neg. #] 253 : [Code] II-C-3 : July 2, 1937.”

Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.”

10 x 8” (25.3 x 20.3 cm) contact print. Good condition, stamped on face “Rough Proof.” #24971 $6,500.00

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17. Fire Engine House #52. Spuyten Duyvil. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937.

Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso “Fire Engine House #52. Spuyten Duyvil.

May 5, 1937. : [Neg. #] 235 : [Code] II.D.2.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print.

Good condition, remains of old mounting tissue on verso. #94721 $5,500.00

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18. Ewen Avenue, No. 2565. Spuyten Duyvil. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1935.

Printed on heavy paper c.1935. Inscribed on verso “Ewen Ave, Spuyten Duyvil, NYC (Bar & Grill) : undated October 11, 1935. : [Neg. #] 8 : [Code] I.A.2.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94730 $4,000.00

19. Palisade Avenue, No. 2505. Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1935. Printed on heavy paper c.1935. Inscribed on verso. “Palisade Avenue, No. 2505 : Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx : October 11, 1935 : (Neg.#) 13 (Code) IA2.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #24955 $2,500.00

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20. Gus Hill’s Minstrels. 1890-1898 Park Ave. Manhattan. (at 129th Street.) Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1935. Printed on heavy paper c.1935. Inscribed on verso “Gus Hill’s Minstrels. : 1890-1898 Park Ave. Manhattan : December 19, 1935. : [Neg. #] 63 [Code] I.A.2.”

Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.”

8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #26678 $3,500.00

21. Henry Maurer. 420-422 East 23rd Street. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938.

Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “Henry Maurer : 420-422 East 23d Street, Manhattan : Angle: looking southeast : [Neg.#] 305 : [Code] I.A.3 and III.H : June 14 1938.”

Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.”

8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25127 $4,500.00

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22. St. Mark’s Church Statue in Courtyard. East 10th Street and Second Avenue, Manhattan. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937.

Inscribed on verso “St. Mark’s Church Statue in Courtyard. East 10th Street and Second Avenue, Manhattan. : March 23, 1937 : [Neg. #] 218 : [Code] III.F.I” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print.

Good condition. #94679 $3,600.00

23. Custom House Statue and New York Produce Exchange. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “Custom House Statue: in rear : NY Produce Exchange Building : 2 Broadway - Manhattan : [Neg.#] 152 : [Code] 1-B and I.A.3.” The statue was designed by Daniel Chester of France and represents Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. The background is the facade of the Produce Exchange which was demolished in 1959. Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25145 $5,000.00

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24. Pier 18, North River. (Foot of West and Murray Streets.) Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1938. Printed on heavy paper c.1938. Inscribed on verso “Pier 18, North River : Foot of West and Murray Streets, Manhattan : March 23, 1938 : [Neg. #] 293 [Code] I.A.3 and II.A.I.C.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25031 $7,500.00

25. Ferry, Chambers Street. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “Ferry : Chambers Street : Manhattan : [Neg. #] 106 [Code] II.A.I.d : April, 1936.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25012 $4,500.00

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26. Ferry, Central Railroad of New Jersey. (Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road.) Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “Ferry: West Street, foot of : Liberty Street, Manhattan : Neg. #160 Code IIA1.d : 8/12/36.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 10 x 8” (25.3 x 20.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25128 $6,000.00

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27. U.S.S. Illinois and Launch: Armory for Naval Reserves. (West 135th Street Pier.)

Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso “U.S.S. Illinois and Launch : Armory for Naval Reserves : West 135th Street Pier, Manhattan : Neg. 251 Code IIE : 7/2/37.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 10 x 8” (25.3 x 20.3 cm) contact print.

Good condition. #25016 $3,500.00

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28. West Street: Horse and Wagon. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “Scene on West St.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94719 $4,500.00

29. Billie’s Bar. First Avenue and 56th Street. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1936.

Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “Billie’s Bar : First Avenue and 56th Street-Manhattan : Neg. # 190 - Code II C-1 : 12/8/36.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #25143 $4,500.00

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30. St. Mark’s Place, # 340-348. (Staten Island, N.Y.). Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso “St. Mark’s Place, #340-348 : Staten Island, NY : [Neg. #] 272 [Code] IA-3 : November 30, 1937.” Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94735 $4,000.00

31. Hope Avenue, No. 139. Staten Island, NY. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937.

Printed on single weight c.1937. Inscribed on verso “Hope Avenue, no. 139. Staten Island, NY. : November 30, 1937. : [Neg. #] 270 : [Code] I.A.3.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94729 $4,500.00

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32. McGraw-Hill Building, Front 42nd Street and 9th Avenue looking East Manhattan.

Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1936. Inscribed on verso “McGraw-Hill Building, Front 42nd Street and 9th Avenue looking East Manhattan.: May 25, 1936 : [Neg. #] 130 : [Code] I.A.3.” Stamped verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #94678 $6,500.00

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33. Advertisements: 1937. Vintage silver gelatin photograph, 1937. Printed on heavy paper c.1937. Inscribed on verso “Advertisements: 1937 : East Houston Street and 2nd Avenue : Northeast Corner, Manhattan : [Neg. #] 205 : [Code] III.I : Feb. 11, 1937.” Stamped with artist’s name on verso. The location of the billboards was on the Houston Street facade of 14 Second Avenue. Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs

by Berenice Abbott” in blue ink. 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #24995 $7,500.00

34. Broome Street, Nos. 504-506. Vintage silver gelatin photograph,1935. Printed on heavy paper c.1935. Inscribed on verso “Broome Street, Nos. 504-506. : Manhattan : October 9, 1935 : [Neg. #] 6 : [Code] I.A.2.” Stamped on verso “Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York’ photographs by Berenice Abbott.” 8 x 10” (20.3 x 25.3 cm) contact print. Good condition. #26682 $4,000.00