Pioneering Women Photographers Anna Atkins and Amélie Guillot-Saguez Achieve High Prices at Paris Auctions
In November, Paris photo auctions saw mixed results with sell-through rates between 33% and 59%, but two lots by pioneering women photographers achieved remarkable prices. At Christie's, an album of 37 photographs by Amélie Guillot-Saguez, taken in Rome in 1847, sold for €254,500. At Sotheby's, Anna Atkins's "The British Algae" (1843), the first photographic book in history, fetched €219,000. Both artists used hand-prepared salted paper and cyanotype processes. Guillot-Saguez's commercial success follows the Musée d'Orsay exhibition "Who's Afraid of Women Photographers? 1839-1945" and its sequel covering 1918-1945, highlighting French cultural policy's role in rediscovering early female photographers.
Key facts
- Paris photo auctions in November had sell-through rates between 33% and 59%.
- Christie's sold Amélie Guillot-Saguez's 1847 Rome album for €254,500.
- Sotheby's sold Anna Atkins's 'The British Algae' for €219,000.
- Atkins's work is considered the first photographic book.
- Guillot-Saguez's album contains 37 photographs of Rome and its monuments.
- Both artists used hand-prepared salted paper and cyanotypes.
- Guillot-Saguez's auction success follows the Musée d'Orsay exhibition on women photographers.
- The article suggests that undervalued female photographers may see price increases after museum shows.
Entities
Artists
- Anna Atkins
- Amélie Guillot-Saguez
Institutions
- Christie's
- Sotheby's
- Musée d'Orsay
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Rome
- Italy