"David Bowie Jail Cell, 1985" 20x24 Vintage Silver Gelatin Print by Helmut Newton
"David Bowie Jail Cell, 1985" 20x24 Vintage Silver Gelatin Print by Helmut Newton
Shot in the stark interior of an abandoned jail outside Monte Carlo, this 1985 portrait of David Bowie captures an extraordinary moment of raw energy and elegance. Through Helmut Newton’s lens, Bowie—ever the master of reinvention—appears both caged and utterly in control, a visual metaphor for the complex icon he had become by the mid-1980s.
Newton’s deep friendship with Bowie allowed for rare access and authenticity, creating photographs that go beyond image into pure persona. Bowie, a lifelong admirer and collector of Newton’s work, trusted him implicitly—an intimacy that radiates through the lens.
This large-format 20x24 vintage silver gelatin print is part of Newton’s highly prized Private Property series and is estate certified for authenticity. The print is accompanied by full collector documentation and Certificate of Authenticity.
For art collectors and Bowie enthusiasts alike, this is a rare opportunity to own a historic collaboration between two of the most influential cultural figures of the 20th century.
🔗 Discover the full story behind this historic shoot →
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Original vintage print from Newton’s acclaimed Private Property Collection
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Shot in 1985, reflecting Bowie’s peak era of artistic experimentation
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Published in US Vogue, 1983, marking its influence in fashion and portraiture
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Museum-quality, collectible fine art
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Image measures 16" x 21" on a 20" x 24" silver gelatin sheet
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Exhibits the classic silver gelatin finish, known for its depth and striking contrast
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Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Ships worldwide with insured priority delivery. Secure this Helmut Newton original print today and own an extraordinary piece of music and photography history.
Helmut Newton 20x24 Vintage Silver Gelatin Print
Specifications:
Vintage silver gelatin print measuring 20 x 24 inches (51 x 61 cm).
Print is in excellent condition and has never been framed or displayed.
This is a rare original vintage print produced in the 1980s in Paris
at the Colour Lab facility where Newton produced his prints for the majority of his career.
Shipping & Handling:
All Helmut Newton vintage prints ship insured worldwide via priority
delivery, free of charge. Prints are never folded and are shipped
flat with accompanying documents and Certificate of Authenticity.
Returns & Exchanges:
Prints in original condition may be returned within 45 days of purchase
for a refund, exchange, or gallery credit.
Provenance:
This collection of vintage prints was gifted to Newton’s agent, Norman
Solomon, in recognition of the work he had performed producing the Private
Property Collection and promoting a series of exhibitions in London,
Paris, New York, and Los Angeles in 1985. Read more.
The collection was legally transferred to Solomon in 1986 via written
agreement and further ratified in a legal settlement in 2012 with the Helmut
Newton Estate and Foundation in the Superior Court of Los Angeles,
California. It is recorded in the United States Copyright Office.
The signed agreement was certified & notarized recognizing Norman
Solomon as the legal owner, making these prints authentically supported by
legal agreement.
About the Artist:
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. Mr. Newton’s "Private Property" exhibition
series was produced by agreement in Paris, London, and New York City in 1985.