This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/21/2024
[PHOTOGRAPHY]. [NUDES]. [SCHENK, Charles (1845-1915), photographer]. Draperies in Action. New York: Charles Schenk, 1902]. Folio. Illustrated with 34 (of 36) Albertype (collotype) plates from photographs. Each plate has 2 to 7 individual images. Approximately 18 x 13¾”. Loose as issued in cloth-backed marbled boards portfolio, paper label on the front cover (worn). Wanting plates 17 and 27, loose title-page with chips from extremities, one plate with scattered surface wear, some plates with faint foxing or soiling in margins, spine rebacked, boards rubbed. Very good. A scarce series of collotypes of Schenk’s photographs of draped female nudes. “...the photographs are entrancing, and like the draperies, they can stand alone... When compared to less inspired pictures of the same era, the naive vitality of Schenk’s nudes becomes more apparent. His adroit use of artificially suspended drapery and dance-like graceful poses conveys a feeling of movement that is absent in most photographs of the time, especially those of the nude... Though Schenk could fail badly, his work is generally of interest. He deserves more fame.” (Peter Lacy, History of the Nude in Photography). OCLC/WorldCat only lists nine copies.