Modernist Photography Appraisal

William Eggleston Photograph of a Urinal (1967)

This item is a framed black and white photographic print by the renowned artist William Eggleston, dated 1967. The print, measuring 14 inches in height and 10 inches in width, depicts a mundane subject: a urinal in a public or institutional setting. The composition is stark and formal, characteristic of Eggleston's early conceptual work before his celebrated foray into color photography. The image captures the urinal's flushed-mount flushing mechanism, chrome fixtures, and the tiled wall behind it. The lighting appears even, highlighting the textures and forms in the scene. The print itself is likely a gelatin silver print, known for its tonal range and depth in black and white photography. Visible on the print are the artist's signature, "William Eggleston", and the year "1967" on the bottom right. The edition number "1/2" is also inscribed on the bottom left, indicating a very limited edition. The photograph is encased within a frame featuring a substantial white mat board, a protective glass front, and a dark, presumably wooden, frame. The frame has a black finish and exhibits some minor scuffs, indicating typical wear consistent with its age. The photograph itself appears to be in good condition, showing no obvious signs of major damage such as tears, creases, or significant fading. The clarity of the image and the distinctness of the signature and edition number suggest excellent preservation. The artist's choice of a commonplace object and his objective presentation of it underscore his unique artistic perspective and foreshadow his groundbreaking contributions to contemporary photography.