Did Paul Strand (or a relative) ever run a formal portraiture studio in New York?

[2F/2F]

I just got some personal 8x10 studio portraits from an estate sale signed "Strand N.Y." They are brown-toned head and shoulders portraits of ladies. I am wondering if this is Paul Strand, whose documentary and urban landscape pictures I love so much.

I had trouble finding reference to any of his commercial work, of which I assumed there was some. I did find a mention that he worked as a "self-employed commercial photographer" some time in the teens, but with no details.

I resized the pix to 600 px, but they still seem to have been a little "mushed up" during uploading. They will give you the idea, though.

 

[removed account4]

2F/2F

you might contact/ email the new york public library
or the new york historical society ...
they would be able to tell you a little bit

i love olde portraits from this generation,
even if it isn't paul strand or his family,
it is a great find!

john

 

[cowanw]

Strand NY is a noted early theatrical photographer
http://www.cas.sc.edu/engl/eal/davidsshields/personal/photography.htm

 

[2F/2F]

Thanks, John and Bill.

I did not get these as an investment. I simply love them. I get whatever I can from whatever estate I am working on, once the sale is over and we are ready to donate or trash items. I was just curious as to whether they were by Paul Strand, as the location and vintage match perfectly. Even if they were, they would likely not be worth anything, but I would like to know. I got a whole box full of pix. Probably about 15 - 20 of these high quality formal portraits from various studios, most of which are in absolutely superb condition and in the original folding cardboard books. The rest are point and shoot family photos, 116 format, etc., lots of prints, and also lots of negs. Very cool stuff. I just sorted it all. They are from a southern midwest business family that moved to Southern CA in the '20s and built a home on an empty lot in Glendale. Lots of photos of the family farm, retail stores, and oil fields (some with oil spouting upward). A couple accidental, but very artistically interesting double exposures. Their son was born shortly afterward, and he recently passed away, in the house in which he was born. Everything in the house was OLD, and nothing was new, save food and supplies. Therefore, all the family stuff was very well kept and intact, but there was no one left to claim it or take any interest in it. The man had no remaining family, and left the estate to a family friend. Quite sad, and also quite interesting that these photos were just going to fade away for ever in the city dump. I also got the transparencies, which start as the black and white ends in the early 1950s. Very sweet collection of photo stuff, and I am glad it is not being trashed. A "customer" at the sale stole the lenses off both of the 16mm projectors...ah, people......

I wonder who Strand N.Y. was and what else he did. A first name would be interesting to know as well.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[jimgalli]

Any curator should be able to tell you if that's the signature. I have read that Stieglitz looked down on those that had to actually work for a living doing commercial photography and portraiture instead of the pure artistic calling. Strand was one not born to privilege like Stieglitz.

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

You should contact the Paul Strand Archives / Aperture Foundation (Anthony Montoya, if he is still there!).