21 May 2016 Photography Auctions
21 May 2016
59. KHALDEI, EVGENY (1917-1997)
Red Flag on the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, signed on the reverse.
Gelatin silver print, 24 by 30.5 cm.
600-900 GBP
Photographed in May 1945, printed c. 1960s.
Provenance: Private collection, Europe.
Evgeny Khaldei (1917–1997) was a legendary Soviet photographer and war correspondent, the author of the most iconic war image Raising the Flag over the Reichstag. Khaldei made his first photograph at the age of 13 on the camera he constructed himself, while working at a factory. He studied photography and gained experience by working for numerous Soviet periodicals and for the Fotokhronika TASS agency. Khaldei was mobilised as a TASS photo correspondent from the very beginning of World War II and recorded it through to the Victory Day. He took the most emotionally charged images, which quickly obtained symbolic status. His world-famous photograph of the Raising the Flag over the Reichstag was printed in millions of copies. Many people saw the war through his images. He photographed the Potsdam Conference, signing of the German Instrument of Surrender and negotiations of the Marshall Plan in Paris. Some of the photographs he made were used as documentary evidence material during the Nuremberg trials.
Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
Ω Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.
§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.
† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.