Last Updated on 03/13/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
Fans of the stark and unique work of iconic photographer Weegee may very well see the value of these two rare vintage prints.
We have yet another bunch of treats for all of you still in search of the next outstanding piece of photography and history to make part of your collection. This time, it’s a couple of rare, vintage prints by the iconic photojournalist Arthur Usher Fellig, better known by his pseudonym Weegee.
The items were listed by Massachusetts ebay seller thepaperfool as very rare prints of Weegee’s distorted photos of Marilyn Monroe. Both 8×10 black and white prints are described as being in fine condition, and priced $3,500 each. If you’re an avid collector of vintage prints, these could very well be fine additions to your collection.
As is the case for with many of our ebay finds, no other information came with the listing, so we had to do some sleuthing ourselves. According to various websites and publications like Mashable and The Guardian, these distorted portraits of Marilyn Monroe are only two of many — not just of the blonde bombshell, but also of several other Hollywood icons and historic personalities. These include Queen Elizabeth II, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, Barbara Streisand, and even political figures like Fidel Castro and Mao Zedong.
Weegee called his creations “distortions” or “caricatures” — products of his experiments with photographic manipulation beginning in the late 1940s. Interestingly, these manipulations involved a variety of methods that included melting copy negatives and replacing lenses with a kaleidoscope. He may be best known for his stark black and white street photography and photojournalism, but we can all agree that these experiments prove to be his own unique, artistic takes on documenting some of the most prominent personalities of his time.
Ready to grab these rare vintage prints? Head to the ebay listings here and here to by it now or make your best offer, but as always, not without consulting experts for the right price.
Photos from the ebay listings