Brassaï, (1899-1984)

Transmutation 17

Transmutation 17, 1934-1935
Gelatin silver print; 'Succession Brassaï Estate' stamp on the verso.
9 1/2 x 6 3/4in (23.5 x 17.4cm)

Provenance
With Galerie Karsten Grève, St. Moritz

In 1934, directly inspired by a two-year collaboration with Pablo Picasso, Brassaï decided to experiment with c. 30 glass plate negatives of female nudes he had photographed from 1931 to 1935, printing each in various states of manipulation. This is one of these original creations in gelatin silver.
In 1967, Brassaï published a selection of twelve photogravures from the series. These diagrammatic and ethereal Transmutations extend earlier multimedia experiments of the Dadaists and Surrealists in photomontage and collage.