Vicente Wolf's 200-Photograph Collection, Including Rare Migrant Mother Print, Heads to Christie's
On October 22, Christie's will auction a curated selection of 200 photographs, gathered by interior designer Vicente Wolf over nearly fifty years, in New York through both a live and an online event. The Vicente Wolf Photography Collection showcases diverse subjects, genres, movements, and periods, featuring notable works from prominent 20th-century European and American photographers. A standout piece is a rare print of Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother, which originally included the mother’s thumb—a detail Lange later chose to edit out. Wolf expressed his astonishment at discovering this version, calling it an exceptional representation of Lange’s work. The auction also features a press print of Marilyn Monroe, created as a mock-up for the inaugural Playboy cover in 1953. The collection includes artists such as Edward Steichen, Man Ray, and Diane Arbus, reflecting Wolf's passion for photography, which was inspired by Richard Avedon.
Key facts
- Vicente Wolf's photography collection of 200 photographs will be auctioned by Christie's in New York on October 22.
- The sale is structured as one live auction and one online auction.
- The collection includes a rare print of Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother showing the mother's thumb, which Lange later edited out.
- Wolf assembled the collection over nearly five decades.
- The sale includes an anonymous press print of Marilyn Monroe hand-masked as a mock-up for the first Playboy cover in 1953.
- Artists represented include Edward Steichen, Man Ray, Alexander Rodchenko, Constantin Brâncusi, Lee Miller, Diane Arbus, André Kertész, Edward Weston, Francesca Woodman, Eugene Atget, Ilse Bing, Yva (Else Ernestine Neuländer), Richard Avedon and Dorothea Lange.
- Wolf's collecting approach began with advice from photographer Richard Avedon.
- Wolf built his career working across residential, hospitality and commercial spaces.
Entities
Artists
- Vicente Wolf
- Edward Steichen
- Man Ray
- Dorothea Lange
- Richard Avedon
- Alexander Rodchenko
- Constantin Brâncusi
- Lee Miller
- Diane Arbus
- André Kertész
- Edward Weston
- Francesca Woodman
- Eugene Atget
- Ilse Bing
- Yva (Else Ernestine Neuländer)
- Marilyn Monroe
- Igor Stravinsky
- Katja Krassin
- Thérèse Duncan
Institutions
- Christie's
- Playboy
- Christie's New York
- Galerie Magazine
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Nipomo
- California
- Paris
- France
- Oceano
- Acropolis
- Cuba