Rare Ernest Cole vintage print enters private sale at MBR Projects

MBR Projects has been appointed to handle the private sale of a unique vintage silver gelatin print by Ernest Cole (1940–1990), which bears his signature on the back. Recognized as a pivotal photographer during the 1960s and 1970s, Cole is celebrated for his portrayal of apartheid in South Africa. His life was fraught with challenges; after spending years in the U.S., he battled homesickness and depression, ultimately succumbing to cancer in a New York public hospital in 1990, just a week after Nelson Mandela's liberation. In 2017, over sixty thousand of his long-lost negatives were discovered in Sweden. His influential book 'House of Bondage' was reissued by Aperture in 2022, followed by 'The True America', showcasing previously unseen American images. This print's sale offers collectors a rare chance to own a significant piece of photographic history, underscoring Cole's lasting impact and the revival of his work.