LILI BUK (nd) A rare portrait of André Kertész, perhaps with Max (Miksa) Winterstein, a photographer. Silver print, the image measuring 4 5/8x6 1/4 inches (11.7x15.9 cm.), with Buk's monogram and the date in Roman numerals in the negative and notations, including Kertész's name, in pencil in an unknown hand, on verso. 1925
Provenance: Lili Buk Collection; to the book dealer Ferenc Kiss, Budapest
An unusual photograph taken at a time when Kertész was considering working with the photographer Angelo (Pál Funk, 1894-1974). At the time Angelo was considered one of the most important photographers on the continent, having established studios throughout Europe, photographing celebrities and worked as a film director and cinematographer. Lili Buk worked for Angelo in his studio.
One of the earliest proponents of the hand-held camera, Kertész had just begun using his new miniature camera. Here he is depicted with a fellow photographer, who may have also been working with Angelo. Kertész is wearing a lab coat, suggesting he was learning and working in the professional lab. Winterstein wears a Russian-style shirt that was popular with leftists in Hungary at the time. Kertész moved to Paris shortly after this image was made, however the small circle of photographers pledged to meet again in 1935, a commitment it would have been impossible to keep. Another example of this print is in the collection at the Hungarian National Museum.
Exhibited: This photograph, along with the two accompanying works by Kertész in this auction, were included in an exhibition titled Taken at Home, Photo-Diary, André Kertész and Hungarians at the Hungarian House of Photography, April 1-May 29, 2005. They were also reproduced in the accompanying catalogue.
