John Kauffmann (1864-1942) was born in the small village of Truro in country South Australia; he became an internationally recognized pioneering photo-impressionist by the first decade of the twentieth century. His images were awarded medals at major competitions, but, perhaps more significantly, they were sold for high prices at a series of one-man exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney. His trademark was soft focus — think sombre moods and misty aspects. His work fell out of favour in the last two decades of his life, but his creativity continued to evolve. In the early 1930s, he produced a series of 'portraits of living flowers', some of which must be numbered among his best work.
This retrospective, containing 40 images and other material from the artist's estate, includes vintage prints from all periods of his long working life. All items are for sale, and this exhibition represents a unique opportunity to purchase important artworks with impeccable provenance.
Exhibition 16–28 February 2018
10am–5pm, Monday to Saturday
196 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia
New York, Tennant and Ward, 1908. From the personal collection of the photographer John Kauffmann, with his signature in ink on the front cover. More
New York, Tennant and Ward, 1905. From the personal collection of the photographer John Kauffmann, with his signature in ink on the front cover. More
1894 (printed later). Reproduced in NEWTON, Gael: 'John Kauffmann, Art Photographer' (NGA, 1996), page 14 (this print, which also appeared in the accompanying travelling exhibition, 'Soft but True'). Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
[Circa 1920s]. Signed on the lower right of the image. More
The medals are: (1) 'Amateur Photographer' Prize Medal. [Engraved] Special Competition 1900. J. Kauffmann. A silver medal, 50 mm in diameter, hallmarked and stamped with the initials J.A.R. (James Andrew Restall, the Birmingham medallist). (2) 'Amateur Photographer' Prize Medal. [Engraved] Holidays with the Camera 1901. J. Kauffmann. A silver medal..... More
Circa 1910s. Signed on the lower right of the image, and titled in pencil on the original mount (now concealed by the mat). Reproduced in BEER, Leslie: 'The Art of John Kauffmann' (1919), plate 17. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July..... More
![Item #109751 'The Gasworks' [Blast Furnaces, Newcastle Steel Works]. A vintage gelatin silver...](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/109751-00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1536111484)
Circa 1915. Signed on the lower right of the image, with the title in pencil on the original mount. Reproduced in NEWTON, Gael: 'John Kauffmann, Art Photographer' (NGA, 1996), page 20 (this print, which also appeared in the accompanying travelling exhibition, 'Soft but True'). Provenance: from the family of John..... More
[Circa 1910s]. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
[Circa 1910s]. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
![Item #108669 'The Grey Veil' [over Melbourne]. A vintage gelatin silver photograph (visible image...](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/108669-00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1536111484)
Circa 1910. Signed and titled in pencil on the original mount (now concealed by the mat). Reproduced in BEER, Leslie: 'The Art of John Kauffmann' (1919), plate 2; NEWTON, Gael: 'John Kauffmann, Art Photographer' (NGA, 1996), page 9. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's..... More
Circa 1910s (the first regatta was held in 1910). Signed on the lower right of the image. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
1890s (a European scene, printed later). Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
Circa 1930s. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
Circa 1930s. Signed in pencil on the original mount (now concealed by the mat). Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
Circa 1930s. Signed and titled (twice) on the original mount (now concealed by the mat). Reproduced in NEWTON, Gael: 'John Kauffmann, Art Photographer' (NGA, 1996), page 25 (this print, which also appeared in the accompanying travelling exhibition, 'Soft but True'). Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold..... More
Circa 1930s. 'Photograph by J. Kauffmann, 243 Collins St., Melbourne' inkstamped on the verso of the image. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
![Item #109735 'Milking Time' [Baker's Flat, near Kapunda, South Australia]. A vintage carbon print...](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/109735-00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1536111484)
Signed and dated (1907) on the lower right of the image. We confidently locate this scene at Baker's Flat, 'an old Irish settlement the other side of the Kapunda copper mine. The houses were quaint thatched places where very aged Irish born people lived. Pigs, poultry and humans all had..... More
Circa 1910s. Signed on the lower right of the image. Reproduced in BEER, Leslie: 'The Art of John Kauffmann' (1919), plate 1. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
[Circa 1910s]. Signed and titled in pencil on the original mount (now concealed by the mat). Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
Signed in pencil on the lower right of the exposed original mount. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. This item forms part of our major retrospective exhibition of the works of John Kauffmann (1864-1942), the pioneering Australian..... More
Circa 1930. Signed and titled in pencil on the mount (now concealed by the mat). Reproduced in NEWTON, Gael: 'John Kauffmann, Art Photographer' (NGA, 1996), page 47 (this print, which also appeared in the accompanying travelling exhibition, 'Soft but True'). Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold..... More
![Item #109757 Portrait of Caroline Marcus [John Kauffmann's sister], with Sweet Peas. A vintage...](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/109757-00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1536111484)
[Circa 1940]. Signed on the lower right of the image. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
[Circa 1910s]. Initialled on the lower right of the image. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
[Circa 1910s]. Signed on the lower right of the image. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More
[Circa 1910s]. Signed on the lower right of the image. Provenance: from the family of John Kauffmann, by descent (sold by Sotheby's Australia, 24 July 1988); private collection, Sydney. More