William Rittase (American, 1894-1968). "R.R. 270" gelatin silver print, n.d. Artist's signature and title handwritten in pencil on verso. A fabulous photograph entitled "R.R. 27" by William Rittase depicting the front of a locomotive powerfully chugging forward as clouds of steam whisp out of the chimney. A pair of figures stand to the right of the image, looking up at the impressive engine, as a metal structure towers beside them. The vehicle is positioned dynamically with a row of train cars trailing diagonally behind, blurring into the background. The photograph appears to have been taken in a station as reflections of the station windows further diversify the image, adding a linear aspect to the piece and creating an even more captivating composition. Size of photograph: 10" W x 8" H (25.4 cm x 20.3 cm) Size of matte: 16" W x 20" H (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)
According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "One of Fortune magazine's most frequently published photographers, Rittase was an engineer before embarking on a career in professional photography. This specialized knowledge served him well in photographing the industrial subjects characteristic of the magazine in the 1930s."
This photograph was in the collection of pioneering patron of the arts, Ginny Williams. Sotheby's hosted a series of auctions featuring art and photography in the Ginny Williams Collection in June and July of 2020. Their press release began as follows, "Born in rural Virginia in 1927, Ginny moved to Denver, Colorado in the late 1950s with her husband, Carl Williams. An avid photographer herself, who studied with Austrian-American photojournalist and photographer Ernst Haas, her collecting journey began with classical figurative photography. Her passion and keen eye eventually prompted her to open her namesake gallery in Denver in the 1980s. While her passion for photography never waned, remaining a primary focus of both her gallery and private collection, her voracious curiosity quickly widened her curatorial focus. Over time, Ginny became increasingly courageous and experimental in her selections, venturing into Abstract Expressionism and Contemporary Art and following her artists themselves through gallery shows and museum exhibitions. As the years passed, Ginny became as much of a trailblazer as the artists she collected."
Provenance: private Idledale, Colorado, USA collection; ex-Ginny Williams collection, Denver, Colorado, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#174107
Condition
Artist's signature and title handwritten in pencil on verso of photograph with stamp of previous owner. Set in a custom matte with Ginny Williams collection label on verso. Photograph and matte are in excellent overall condition.