Christie’s Presents a Photo Collection by the Legendary Editor of Paris Match

The man who led the French magazine Paris Match for several decades is one of the icons of global photojournalism. With his instinct for pictures that could capture the public’s imagination and boost sales, Therond shaped the perception of the photographic medium in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, visitors to France were greeted by signs bearing the names of towns, which listed both the population and number of Paris Match readers.

In addition to his editorial work, which by the end of Therond’s life had won him numerous awards, he also amassed an extensive collection of some 3,000 photographs. The collection, which features the greatest stars of world photography, from Dora Maar to Helmut Newton, represents a unique record of the visual memory of the past two centuries. 

At its September auction in Paris, Christie’s will offer a carefully curated collection of photographs spanning the first hundred years of photography—from the earliest daguerreotypes of the 1840s to the surrealist experiments of the interwar years of the last century. The collection includes seascapes by Gustave Le Gray, photographs by Félix Teynard from his travels in the Orient, early works by Jacques Henri Lartigue, experiments by Man Ray, and explorations by Maurice Tabard.

The landmark sale of André Jammes’ collection in London in 1999 set new price records for historical photography. Christie’s expects Therond’s collection to surpass them. This is reflected in the care Christie’s is devoting to the preparations. Three pre-auction exhibitions will be held: in April in New York, in July the collection will be presented at the prestigious Arles Photography Festival, and subsequently it will be on view in early September in Paris. For all photography lovers, this is a chance to gain insight into the mind of the man whom Henri Cartier-Bresson called his “eye.”