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Helmut Newton's
"Private Property" Collection

About the 'Private Property" Collection (Click to Expand)

This collection of vintage silver gelatin Helmut Newton prints is available directly from the private collection of Global Images co-founder Norman Solomon, who produced the "Private Property" collection for Helmut Newton in the mid 1980's. The collection featured box sets of 48 prints available in two sizes and held gallery openings in London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. Following several years of poor sales Newton gifted the remaining inventory, as well as additional images, transparencies, and polaroids to Solomon as recognition and payment for the unsuccessful campaign. Newton, Solomon, and John Dunnicliff, Newton's agent at the time, held this meeting at the world famous Chateau Marmont Hotel on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles where Newton resided until his passing in 2004.

Following his passing the majority of Newton's work worldwide was collected by the Helmut Newton Foundation and sent to their museum in Germany as directed by the late photographer's will. For years the Foundation pursued Solomon and Dunnicliff insisting that they either destroy the inventory Newton had given them or relinquish it to the Foundation in Germany. Armed with written agreements and documents supporting their position, Solomon and Dunnicliff were granted the legal rights the the collection and inventory they had been given in 2012. This authentication of the collection and acceptance by the Foundation created the only known collection authenticated by agreement with the Estate to this date. This scarcity has made Newton prints increase in value steadily over the 17 years since his passing, most recently hitting a record of o1.8m in June 2019. We supply Newton inventory to a handful of sister fine art galleries worldwide and as the direct source work diligently to maintain a balanced and collectable inventory for enthusiasts and investors alike.                      

All prints are accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Norman Solomon detailing the 2012 agreement with the Helmut Newton Estate. All images shown are in our gallery inventory and ship immediately. Special orders items not in gallery please allow 2 weeks. All prints are unframed and are shipped priority complimentary worldwide. 45 day return or exchange policy on unopened items.

HELMUT NEWTON PHOTOGRAPHY

https://globalimages.art/collections/16x20-vintage-prints
https://globalimages.art/collections/20x24-vintage-prints
https://globalimages.art/collections/signed-vintage-prints

Vintage silver gelatin Helmut Newton photography prints from his 1980's "Private Property" exhibitions in Paris, London, New York, and Los Angeles. Available in signed editions and two open edition sizes.

 

This collection of rare Estate Certified vintage silver gelatin Helmut Newton photography prints are offered directly from the personal collection of Newton's longtime friend and producer Norman Solomon. It remains the only collection Newton ever produced for gallery distribution with the remaining inventory being awarded to Mr. Solomon in 2012 by legal agreement and represented exclusively by Global Images to dealers and collectors alike. Read more about the collection and Helmut Newton prints history here.
 

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Helmut Newton Photography Collection

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About Helmut Newton (Click To Expand)

Helmut Newton (1920-2004) was one of the world’s most celebrated photographers whose uniquely edgy imagery is coveted worldwide by collectors and aficionados of photographic art. Global Images carries a gorgeous collection of rare pre-1985 original vintage prints produced in small numbers from a series of transparencies that Newton considered his most provocative and important work through 1985. Unsigned at the time, they were sent out to major publications to stimulate interest in a photographer’s work. Most examples of Helmut Newton photography were destroyed or written over, it is very rare to find them in immaculate condition. Helmut Newton photography is coveted by collectors worldwide with auction values increasing steadily. Rare signed Silver Gelatin prints are available upon inquiry.

Newton created a working space for his models that was part decadent and part unorthodox — a safe microcosm in which fantasies became reality. And perhaps most famously of all, Newton engendered an environment in which his female models claimed the space around them with unapologetic poise and commanding sensuality. His almost cinematic compositions provided a hyper-real backdrop for the provocative images of sculptural, larger-than-life women, and enhanced the themes of voyeurism and fetishism that run throughout his work.

Amazingly, despite the fact that Newton was known for his erotically charged photography, it was not until he was 59 years old that he shot his first nudes.
“It was not until 1980 that I photographed what I consider to be my first nude. In quick succession I executed the Big Nudes, the Naked and Dressed, and, in Los Angeles, the Domestic Nudes series. The fact that the models in these photographs were the same girls I used in my fashion work gave them a certain elegance and coolness that I was looking for in my work.” - Helmut Newton - on models. "American Photo", January/February 2000

This collection of Helmut Newton photography vintage prints were gifted to Newton’s agent Norman Solomon, in recognition of the work he had carried out in promoting Newton’s “Private Property” series of exhibitions in 1985. The print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Norman Solomon. The ownership rights of this print are supported by an original agreement with Newton in 1984, and supplemented by a further agreement with The Helmut Newton Estate in 2012. They have been stored in conservation condition and are excellent examples of vintage Helmut Newton photography.

If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your Original Helmut Newton purchase, you may return your Helmut Newton photography if it's unopened from it's original packaging (you are responsible for applicable return shipping costs) within 14 days of purchase and it will go back on the card it was purchased on.

ABOUT HELMUT NEWTON AND NORMAN SOLOMON PRODUCING PRIVATE PROPERTY EXHIBITIONS

ARTPRICE HELMUT NEWTON 20 YEAR VALUES

About Helmut Newton and Norman Solomon Producing "Private Property" (Click To Expand)

In 1983 Norman Solomon traveled frequently between Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, London and Paris and took up residence in Paris on the Blvd St. Germain where he worked on the development of an innovative television project, World Access Television, dba You-TV, for introduction to American audiences. During his days and nights in Paris he mingled and socialized with mostly European friends one of whom was John Dunnicliff, a Brit who had become the Paris Agent for many top photographers including David Hamilton and Helmut Newton.

At this time Norman was dating a German photographic model and cavorting with friends, including Mr. Dunnicliff. He enjoyed life in the City of Light and also traveling. In early 1984, via an introduction by Mr. Dunnicliff and in the company of his German girlfriend, Norman was introduced to Helmut Newton. Although knowing little about photography, after a few encounters with Mr. Newton, Norman introduced an idea to Helmut that he produce a boxed ‘Portfolio Collection’ of his best works to date in addition to him just printing individual prints of his work in a variety of sizes. Helmet embraced the idea and commissioned Norman to raise the funds and produce the collection.

Up to that time, John Dunnicliff managed Helmut Newton’s bookings and introduced Helmet’s works to a variety of publications and individual clients, via showing Helmut’s prints and transparencies to interested parties. At that time, Mr. Newton, with Mr. Dunnicliff's help, established himself as one of the world's most coveted photographers with frequent stories and photographs appearing in Vogue magazines internationally and with clients such as Yves St. Laurent.

Although photography was not as yet considered a valuable collectable, Mr. Solomon raised the funds to produce a boxed edition of seventy-five collections consisting of forty-five, 16×20 signed, silver gelatin Helmut Newton prints, titled ‘Private Property.’ Via a formal agreement with Helmut, Norman was granted the exclusive opportunity to sell the Private Property boxed collections that Mr. Newton kept in storage at Sotheby’s. Helmut Newton released the 45 signed print, boxed collections to Norman for $7,000 per box that Norman introduced at $13,500 in 1985. Norman and John Dunnicliff were each also promised a collection plus Norman was to receive 10 ‘Artists Proof’ collections to be used promotionally and as exhibition sets/prints.

Norman organized Private Property opening exhibitions in 1985 at the A,B,C,D Gallery on the Rue de Lisbon in Paris, then the Hamilton Gallery on Carlos Place in London and at the Staley-Wise Gallery on Prince Street in New York’s SoHo and finally at the G. Ray Hawkins Gallery on La Brea in Los Angeles. Although the Helmut Newton Private Property Collection was offered for only $13,500 at the time, very few sales were consummated. Overall the exhibitions fell short of expectations leaving a large inventory of unsold images.

Most sales were made to individual buyers/dealers in San Francisco while just a very few sold via the gallery openings. Therefore, outside of sales, the few that Norman purchased from Helmut were sold prematurely, prior to 1992, at relatively low prices. It wasn't until after Helmut's passing, due to a heart attack while driving out of the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles in 2004, that prices for the Private Property Collection, and for Helmut’s signed works in general, began to skyrocket.

In a settlement with the Helmut Newton Estate in 2013, Norman & John Dunnicliff were granted a series of transparences produced by Helmut Newton as well as prints that were used for introductory purposes from 1978 through 1984 plus ‘hand inscribed’ Polaroids of contact sheets, that Helmut considered his most important work during that period.

Norman also produced a series of Helmut Newton Posters that were used for promotional purposes, some of which were featured and sold during the summer of 2013 at the Helmut Newton exhibition at the Annenberg ‘Space for Photography,’ in Century City, Los Angeles.

Now that you have learned about the Norman Solomon Collection, please take a moment to look through these fabulous pieces.

These artworks are currently among some of the only Helmut Newton works being offered to collectors across the world. These pieces you find on our site are extremely rare.

We are honored to present these works to those who appreciate them as much as we do.

Helmut Newton Value History From Artprice (Click To Expand)

Over the past two decades Helmut Newton photography has had it's fair share of ups and downs. In retrospect the peaks and valleys mostly followed the market as would be expected but reviewing the stellar performance uncovers a gem for current owners and future collectors alike. Speculation in the art world has long been as mystery to many but certain collections with unique characteristics create opportunities for investors and everyday collectors not often found in the art marketplace. Newton's imagery is world famous and instantly recognized for its edgey and erotic style and the values being realized for his works today are the result of a unique set of circumstances. When Newton passed away unexpectedly January 23, 2004 in a bizarre automobile accident as he pulled out of the valet at the Chateau Marmont, the Los Angeles luxury enclave he had called home for over a decade, his work had just began experiencing discovery in the art markets as he had never focused on sales or exhibitions. This resulted in great momentum with his work's prices when he passed away but no formal arrangements with galleries or auction houses had been established.  

Following his untimely death, all of his available works and rights were distributed amongst his foundations and museums to be locked away forever from potential buyers. This left the only remaining inventory the select items that private collectors and a handful of galleries has acquired up to that point. This created a set of circumstances in which his works were gaining momentum in the marketplace and all of a sudden experienced an inventory vacuum that resulted in a greatly shortened supply. Additionally, the fact that Newton only produced his images in silver gelatin format, which is a darkroom enlarging process, eliminated the potential for inkjet reproductions entering the market following his death. This one factor has greatly contributed to the steadily increasing valuations and the market confidence in his works. Explained simply, an image developed in a darkroom must be produced from an original negative or transparency therefore bearing characteristics easily identifying it from an inkjet reproduction regardless of the quality.

At the time of Newton's passing his 1980's exhibition titled "Private Property" were the only curated exhibitions he had done. While he was featured in many galleries with select images he had only produced the "Private Property" collection as a set. Newton gifted the remaining inventory in 1986 to his producer, Norman Solomon, as recognition for the work he had done producing and curating the collection in lieu of payment. This created the only collection of Newton originals available to collectors for purchase in existence. In 2012 the collection was ratified and acknowledge in a legal settlement between June Newton and Norman Solomon granting Solomon the legal rights to the inventory in whole.

Following the 2012 agreement the inventory, consisting of 16x20 and 20x24 silver gelatin prints, was introduced to the markets. The inventory has been experiencing steady demand for the past 9 years and has followed the historic price trend and values as set by Artprice, the leading marketplace expert for art values. The charts below display the average of Helmut Newton sale prices over the past two decades. For additional information on Artprice valuations please visit link below.

 
Artprice Methodology