Willy Ronis

Willy Ronis Estate, Collection of Stéphane Kovalsky

Auction: Tuesday, 13 December 7pm


Public exhibitions:
Friday 9th December: 11am - 7pm
Saturday 10th December: 11am – 6pm
Sunday 11th December: 2pm – 6pm
Monday 12th December: 11am – 7pm

Online catalogue: www.artcurial.com

Expert: Antoine Romand

Enquiries: Capucine Tamboise
+33 (0)1 42 99 16 21 | ctamboise@artcurial.com

Willy Ronis died on September 11th 2009, a few months before the celebration of his 100th birthday. One can say that he casted his eyes over the entire 20th Century. As the importance of his work was more likely recognized at the end of his career, his artistic legacy was especially important.

Mindful of passing to future generations his testimony, he donated his entire estate to the French State in 1983 and 1989. The major part of this fund of thousands of photographs, originally certified, is today preserved by the French Médiathèque de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine. The last photographs kept by the photographer before his death were stored in his Parisian apartment. Beyond the legs, Willy Ronis left to his grandson Stéphane Kovalsky 6,000 photographs and archives from his personal collection.

Among these, 164 artworks were chosen by Artcurial to be presented at auction. This set covers all the years of creations of the photographer, offering a complete view of his work. Stéphane Kovalsky wanted to pay a personal tribute to his grandfather’s work and underline the role he played in forging the history of photography.