Leonard Koren (American, born 1948) 17 Beautiful Men Taking a...
Leonard Koren (American, born 1948)
17 Beautiful Men Taking a Shower
18 tirages argentiques, en leporello, le premier avec titre au verso, le dernier '© Leonard Koren, Los Angeles, 1975'
15.2 x 11.4cm plié (6 x 4 1/2in when folded).
18 gelatin silver prints, joined concertina-style, the first titled on verso, the last with credit
Provenance
Avery Willard (a.k.a. Bruce King) (1921-1999), New York, acquired from the artist, 1976.
Private collection, New York, by descent from the above, 1999.
Acquired from the above by the present owner.
Rare photobook, the artist's first publication. Leonard Koren carved out a niche in baths and bathing. This lot includes a copy of an article in the Los Angeles Times recording a steam-bath party that Koren organised in Pico Burnside Baths ('A Steamy Way to Break the Ice', 11 September 1975). 17 Beautiful Men Taking a Shower was Koren's first published work; echoing the format of Ed Ruscha's Every Building on the Sunset Strip, it includes an image of Ed's brother Paul.
In 1976 Koren would launch WET: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing which ran until 1981. Curiously, there are eighteen images in the present work - it would seem that 'Doug' appears twice. The present lot was once in the collection of famous photographer, filmmaker, gay activist, and, under the pseudonym Bruce King, publisher of Gay Scene, per a letter from Koren on the reverse of the newspaper clipping.
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Leonard Koren (American, born 1948)
17 Beautiful Men Taking a Shower
18 tirages argentiques, en leporello, le premier avec titre au verso, le dernier '© Leonard Koren, Los Angeles, 1975'
15.2 x 11.4cm plié (6 x 4 1/2in when folded).
18 gelatin silver prints, joined concertina-style, the first titled on verso, the last with credit
Provenance
Avery Willard (a.k.a. Bruce King) (1921-1999), New York, acquired from the artist, 1976.
Private collection, New York, by descent from the above, 1999.
Acquired from the above by the present owner.
Rare photobook, the artist's first publication. Leonard Koren carved out a niche in baths and bathing. This lot includes a copy of an article in the Los Angeles Times recording a steam-bath party that Koren organised in Pico Burnside Baths ('A Steamy Way to Break the Ice', 11 September 1975). 17 Beautiful Men Taking a Shower was Koren's first published work; echoing the format of Ed Ruscha's Every Building on the Sunset Strip, it includes an image of Ed's brother Paul.
In 1976 Koren would launch WET: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing which ran until 1981. Curiously, there are eighteen images in the present work - it would seem that 'Doug' appears twice. The present lot was once in the collection of famous photographer, filmmaker, gay activist, and, under the pseudonym Bruce King, publisher of Gay Scene, per a letter from Koren on the reverse of the newspaper clipping.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
