Mar 23, 2010 - Sale 2208

Sale 2208 - Lot 198

Price Realized: $ 19,200
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 20,000 - $ 30,000
ADAMS, ANSEL (1902-1984)
"Aspens, Northern New Mexico." Silver print, 15 1/2x19 1/2 inches (39.4x49.5 cm.), on a Crescent board mount, with Adams's signature, in ink, on mount recto and his early Carmel hand stamp with the title and negative number, in ink, in Adams's hand, on mount verso. 1958; printed late 1960s
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Additional Details

From the collection of Elsa Leightner; to photographer John Boland, who recounts how he met Adams and acquired lots 179, 180 199, and 200 in this sale:


"For about 10 years, from the early 60s to the early 70's, my friend John Clark and I did 'beaucoup' underwater photography in the Monterey, Carmel area, principally around Carmel Bay and Point Lobos – Ansel Adams Country. The local Camera Shop, Pete Sarber's in Montclair Village center in Oakland, had a framing shop run by Elsa Leightner. Every time I brought anything in to her to be framed, she would exclaim how special the work was, and that 'Ansel would be really interested in seeing them.' I commented, not sarcastically, but in passing, 'Right....', and went on home. A few years later I got a rather urgent call from Elsa telling me that she was in need of some funds. She asked me if I would be interested in buying seven signed Ansel Adams original prints. It took me about 10 milli-seconds to get down to the shop. I asked her how she came by the photos. She blew me away by telling me she was one of Ansel's first photographic assistants. I bought the prints on the spot, even offering her more than she was asking for them.

When I wasn't diving, I owned Hayward Engraving, a photo engraving plant. One of the photos I purchased from Elsa was "Moon Over Half Dome in Yosemite Park." The photo engraving process I used was done with Lith film, which sees only black or white. I made an identically-sized lith image and etched it quite deeply into zinc. I was very pleased with the result, and took it to Elsa to see what she thought. She was really excited, and enthusiastically told me how excited Ansel would be to see it. She suggested I bring some of my underwater color prints, many of which were taken near where he lived. This time I told her I would like to give the etching to Ansel.

About a week later, Elsa, my wife Barbara and, I, six or seven underwater photos, and the etching were en route to the Adams's home. We were greeted by his wife, Virginia. Ansel soon joined us and took me on a tour of his darkroom. Ansel had a wonderful sense of humor and there was much swapping of jokes and stories. Eventually Elsa insisted I get out the underwater photos.

Ansel was very interested in the photos, and complimented me on the images and subjects. In a non-deprecating manner he explained that he really didn't care for color photography. He thought the use of color was a gimmick. He much preferred black and white. Elsa kept nudging me to get out the etching. Again, I was looking for an excuse to give the 'Moon - Halfdome' etching to Ansel and Virginia. I held it up for him to see. His initial reaction was clearly one of interest and pleasure. Sadly, that was followed by a bit of a frown after I asked him if he liked it. He said, 'Actually no – it's not really valid.' He told me that if I had taken the original image, and I had envisioned the high-contrast etching as the end product, then it would be a valid work. To take an image that he envisioned ending as a photographic print, and take it several steps beyond the print stage was not valid.

Again, as my intention was to give it to them, I was bit disappointed. When it came time to get on the road back to the Bay Area, I packed up the underwater photos, leaving the etching until last, I picked it up again, and showed it a last time to Ansel. I asked him, "You really don't much care for this?' Ansel didn't even pause, but got this devilish grin and said, and I'll NEVER forget it. ''No. Actually it's kind of like doing the Mona Lisa in bottle-caps!' We all just roared! It was the greatest, and I have to say my most treasured, put-down of my life. I still have the etching!"

Ansel Adams at 100, 104-105; Grand Canyon and the Southwest, 85; Letters and Images 1914-1984, 314.