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.

Upon visual examination of the images provided, this photographic print presents as an early work by the highly influential American photographer William Eggleston. The piece, dated 1967, is a black and white gelatin silver print depicting a urinal, a subject matter consistent with Eggleston's early conceptual explorations of the mundane. The presence of a signature, date, and, most importantly, the exceptionally rare edition number '1/2' are significant value drivers. Eggleston is primarily known for his later color work, making his signed, early black and white prints, especially from such a small edition, highly sought after by serious collectors and institutions. The market for Eggleston's work is robust, with his color dye-transfer prints achieving six and seven-figure results at major auctions. While his black and white prints typically command lower prices, the rarity of this particular image and its early date place it in a special category. Comparables would include other limited edition, signed black and white prints from the 1960s. The photograph appears to be in good condition, with minor scuffs on the frame that do not detract from the print's value. However, this appraisal is provisional and based solely on digital images. Without physical inspection, I cannot definitively authenticate the signature or the print medium. Full authentication would require in-person examination by a photography expert to assess the paper, printing process, and ink of the signature. Furthermore, establishing a clear provenance with documentation tracing ownership back to the artist or a reputable early gallery would be crucial to realizing the high end of its potential value.