Item #222130 Portrait photograph of Eugene O'Neill. Eugene O'Neill, Carl Van Vechten.

Rare Van Vechten Portrait of Eugene O'Neil

Portrait photograph of Eugene O'Neill.

[New York]: March 1, 1932.

Price: $1,500.00


About the item

Bust portrait of the author seated, in profile, on Van Vechten's sofa. Gelatin silver print. 1 vols. 25 x 20 cm. (approx 10 x 8 inches). Rare Van Vechten Portrait of Eugene O'Neil. Atelier stamp on verso, an docketed in pencil with sitter, the date, and the Van Vechten's reference to negative and print ("vii - 1").

Item #222130

From a rare and early series taken on the evening of March 1, 1932, when O'Neill and Carlotta dined at the home of Van Vechten and his wife Fania. None of this series is in the Library of Congress, nor at Yale (which has the negatives).

These are also among the earliest portrait photographs taken by Van Vechten in his new profession as photographer: "Anna May Wong ... was the first to come for a sitting ... Eugene O'Neill was the second caller. When he and Carlotta Monterey returned to New York, Carol arranged for an immediate session with the Leica ... " - Kellner, CARL VAN VECHTEN AND THE IRREVERENT DECADES, p. 260.