Description:

HUMPHREY SPENDER (BRITISH, 1910-2005)
Newcastle United FC Changing room, 1938.
Silver gelatin print, signed, dated, and titled with blindstamp to verso, as well as to recto with photographer's blindstamp. Darkly-lit scene with well-dressed figure lighting the cigarette of a nude male football player. Matted behind glass, black frame with gallery labels to verso.

Artist Bio: Humphrey Spender was born in 1910, the third son of journalist and writer, Harold Spender. His brothers were Stephen, a poet, and Michael, who was a scientist and explorer. His brother Michael gifted him his first camera at the age of 10, and taught him how to use it. He spent a year studying art history at Freiburg University and then enrolled at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, but decided against a profession in architecture, and decided to pursue a career in photography instead.

During his career, Spender worked for a social research project in the UK called Mass Observation. This project was set up to record human activity though handwritten records and photography in the industrial town of Bolton, studying middle-class families. He also worked as a photographer for the Picture Post, as one of the weekly magazines first contributors. The Picture Post was immensely successful in its time, selling over a million copies after just a few months, and has been compared to Life magazine.

He worked for the Picture Post until the 1950s, and worked for a stint as a war photographer in 1941. He published a book titled Worktown People (1982) which was a compilation of his works submitted to Mass Observation and published in the Picture Post. Deborah Frizzell published a book in 1997, compiling his work from 1932-1942. Her publication coincided with a retrospective of his work being presented at the Yale Center for British Art. He passed away March 11, 2005.

Sources:
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp07593/humphrey-spender

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/mar/15/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1
Sight: 13" height, 8.75" width; frame: 20.25" height, 16.25" width

Accepted Forms of Payment:

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

Shipping

Shipment is the full responsibility of the buyer. Selkirk will not be responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or otherwise responsible for any items left in Selkirk's possession fifteen (15) days after the sale. If arrangements for shipping have not been made and communicated within thirty (30) days, Selkirk reserves the right, at this time, to charge a storage fee of $10 per lot per day for furniture and large format items and $5 per lot per day for all other items, and within sixty (60) days, at its own discretion, sell any items left on the premises. Accumulated fees resulting from storage and insurance cost will be taken out of any proceeds.

Objects that contain materials of endangered or protected species may be subject to regulations disallowing export and import into other states or countries. It is the buyer's responsibility to be aware of all applicable laws and regulations and to obtain any required export or import licenses or certificates and any other required documentation.

May 12, 2022 10:00 AM CDT
St. Louis, MO, US

Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers

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

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $29 $5
$30 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $299,999 $10,000
$300,000 $499,999 $25,000
$500,000 + $50,000