Iconic Photographer Helmut Newton's Self-Portrait Could Fetch £90,000 at Christie's Auction

Famous auction house Christie's (in London) is set to host an auction on Modern Photography, which will feature the work of Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and David Lachapelle. Among the works to go under the hammer there is an iconic self-portrait of Newton, which is expected to fetch £90,000.

A Daily Mail report says top lots will include Newton's "Self Portrait with Wife and Models" from 1980 and his "10<sup>th Floor Hilton, Paris" from 1976 which is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £50,000. There are also photographs of supermodel Naomi Campbell shot by David Lachapelle and Peter Lindbergh, as well as legendary photographer Burt Glinn.

"This is an opportunity to acquire some of the most important works of the history of photography, with works by 19th century masters, and a strong focus on post-war and fashion photography, led by the work of Irving Penn, Helmut Newton and Peter Beard,' Christie's said of the sale, adding, "The incredible roll call of subjects captured includes Picasso, Greta Garbo, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, Marilyn Monroe, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Barack Obama."

The exhibition brings to mind Newton's controversial quote: "Some people say photography is an art. Mine is not. I'm a gun for hire."

"I'm attracted to bad taste. It's much more exciting than the cliches parading as good taste," the photographer was quoted as saying, once, by Bloomberg.

Newton was born in Berlin and later moved to Australia before shifting to London. He married actress June Brunell and the duo settled in Monte Carlo. After he died, at the age of 83, his wife held the Grand Palais Exhibition was conducted in Paris featuring 200 of his photograph. Newton also worked as a wedding photographer specialising in portraits and also with the fashion magazine Vogue.

Incidentally, Newton was once accused of misogyny - hatred of women. The condition is usually manifested by the portraying of women as sexual objects and the committing of violence against them, as also by sexually discriminating against them. The presence of the condition did not, apparently, prevent his models from agreeing to pose for him, more than once.