Phillips’ Henri Cartier-Bresson Auction Results

Last week Phillips hosted an auction of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s work at their New York headquarters. The auction, from the collection of Peter Fetterman, held 120 lots ranging from some of the artist’s most famous works to self-portraits, landscapes, street photography, celebrity portraiture, and documentary. As one of the 20th century’s most famous photographers, it is no surprise that the auction pulled a sales total of over $2 million and sold 112 lots, after a 3-month highlights tour to London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Paris.

The most expensive lot was Cartier-Bresson’s Hyeres, France (featured) which had an estimate of $12,000-$18,000 but sold for $100,000. It wasn’t the only photograph to far outsell expectations with Siphnos, Greece selling for $52,500 (highest estimate of $15,000), Near Cerest, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France (self-portrait) selling for $52,500 (highest estimate of $12,000), Rue Mouffetard, Paris selling for $43,750 (highest estimate of $25,000), and Henri Matisse observing a ceramic vase by Pablo Picasso, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, which sold for $40,000 surpassing it’s highest estimate of $9,000. In fact, most of the lots that sold received hammer prices much greater than their estimates, proving how strong the appetite for Cartier-Bresson’s work remains.

You can view all the lots available, the results and further information about the auction by visiting Phillips’ dedicated page here.