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Lot 2

Ruth Orkin
(American, 1921-1985)
American Girl in Florence, Piazza Republica, Italy

2 February 2021, 12:00 EST
New York

Sold for US$12,750 inc. premium

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Ruth Orkin (American, 1921-1985)

American Girl in Florence, Piazza Republica, Italy, 1951
Gelatin silver print, printed later, signed, titled and dated in pencil on the verso.
9 x 13 1/2in (22.9 x 34.3cm)
sheet 11 x 14in (28 x 35.5cm)

Footnotes

Literature
Orkin, A Photo Journal, Viking Press, 1981, pp. 90-91
Ruth Orkin: A Retrospective, International Center for Photography, New York, May 5-July 16, 1995, exhibition catalogue, p. 9
Ruth Orkin: Above and Beyond, Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York, December 9, 1999-January 22, 2005, exhibition catalogue, p. 9
Ruth Orkin, An American Girl in Italy: The Making of A Classic, Orkin Archive/ Howard Greenberg Gallery, September 16 - October 22, 2005, exhibition catalogue, cover and pl. 10
Cornic, Morris Engel, Ruth Orkin: Outside - From Street Photography to Filmmaking, Carlotta Films, 2014, pp. 106-107

...Here's the question everyone asks: "Did you pose? Was the picture staged?". Absolutely not. Ruth was striding ahead towards the Piazza. She turned and saw me walking through a gauntlet of men. It was a situation she had long imagined. She shot a picture and shouted: "Jinx go back and step off that curb again." I did; she shot and on the second take photographed "The American Girl in Italy."
NINALEE ("JINX") ALLEN CRAIG

A rare, oversized and box-mounted version of this image will also be offered later in this sale - lot 49.

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