Lot 164

(2) Weegee Urban Photos, Flagpole Painter & Window Washer

Previous image preload Next image preload

(2) Weegee Urban Photos, Flagpole Painter & Window Washer

Estimate: $200 - $300

Starting Bid: $70

(0 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Weegee
[New York, NY], ca. 1940s-1950s
(2) Weegee Urban Photos, Flagpole Painter & Window Washer
Photographs

Two vintage photographs taken by Weegee (Arthur Fellig) (1899-1968), an Ukrainian-American street photographer celebrated for his candid snapshots of mid-20th C. urban daily life. N.d. but ca. 1940s-1950s. [New York, New York.] Expected superficial wear to be elaborated below, else very good. The largest photograph showing the flagpole painter measures 14" x 11.125".

Weegee began his career as a street photographer and tabloid photojournalist. At first, he worked almost exclusively at night, rushing over to document crime and accident scenes reported over the police radio. His interests expanded to include New Yorkers of all walks of life, but especially the working poor, the victimized, or the outcast. Weegee took multiple photographs of both flagpole painters and window washers, photographing them suspended in the air, or seen from below or from outside. He deliberately juxtaposed the workers - who were seemingly oblivious to the dangers - with the dizzying heights of the NYC skyline. In the 1950s and 1960s, Weegee used this photograph of a window washer in distortion photo experiments.

The lot includes:

1. Weegee, a large glossy black and white gelatin silver photograph depicting a young flagpole painter suspended over Herald Square. Crowds of pedestrians - as well as cars, buses, and trucks on Broadway and 6th Avenue - are visible in the background and below. Hotel McAlpin (present day McAlpin Towers) is recognizable to the right. Unsigned and unstamped, but one of Weegee's most well-known photographs of this subject matter, and of the same type and size as comparable photographs found in museum collections. Scattered crazing, and minor corner wrinkles. A small surface abrasion is located along the top edge. Else very good. 14" x 11.125".

2. Weegee, a glossy black and white gelatin silver photograph showing a window washer on the outside window ledge of a skyscraper, often attributed to be the Empire State Building. Hand-stamped verso as: "Please Credit / Weegee / from / Photo-Representatives." Expected wrinkles, with a tiny closed tear along the right bottom edge. Foxing and a stray pencil mark visible only verso. Else very good. 8.125" x 10".

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: largest: 14" x 11.125"
  • Medium: Photographs

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000