In January 1941, Van Leo, or rather Levon Alexander Boyadjian, opened the Studio Angelo photography atelier in Cairo along with his brother Angelo. At the time, most of their customers were soldiers and officers of the British and American armies, who sent their likenesses from the front to their families. This portrait taken by Van Leo is of General Wladyslaw Anders. It is an excellently preserved, original, and unique photograph signed by Van Leo, bearing the date 1942. On August 22nd, 1942, Anders held a meeting with Winston Churchill and also spoke to General Harold Alexander at the British Embassy in Cairo. It is very probably that this is when the general's portrait was taken at Studio Angelo. Gen. Anders's portrait can be seen on one of the photographs advertising the photography studio, which was taken in Van Leo's parlor. The calendar visible on the same photograph marks the date on which it was taken, October 23rd, 1942. Hence, the general's photograph must have been created previously. In the 50's, Van Leo became known for his portraits of celebrities, mainly film stars, but he also made works of a more experimental nature - mainly self-portraits. His portraits combine the glitz of Hollywood stars with oriental romanticism. They are also a record of Egypt's development in the previous century. In 1972, Angelo Boyadjian opened the Studio d'Art Angelo in Paris. The Studio was open until 1989.
ADDITIONAL CHARGE DETAILS:
In addition to the hammer price, the successful bidder agrees to pay us a buyer's premium on the hammer price of each lot sold. On all lots we charge 18 % of the hammer price.
gelatin silver print, vintage print on Baryta paper, 40 x 30 cm
signed lower left: 'Van-Leo | CAIRO-1942'
In January 1941, Van Leo, or rather Levon Alexander Boyadjian, opened the Studio Angelo photography atelier in Cairo along with his brother Angelo. At the time, most of their customers were soldiers and officers of the British and American armies, who sent their likenesses from the front to their families. This portrait taken by Van Leo is of General Wladyslaw Anders. It is an excellently preserved, original, and unique photograph signed by Van Leo, bearing the date 1942. On August 22nd, 1942, Anders held a meeting with Winston Churchill and also spoke to General Harold Alexander at the British Embassy in Cairo. It is very probably that this is when the general's portrait was taken at Studio Angelo. Gen. Anders's portrait can be seen on one of the photographs advertising the photography studio, which was taken in Van Leo's parlor. The calendar visible on the same photograph marks the date on which it was taken, October 23rd, 1942. Hence, the general's photograph must have been created previously. In the 50's, Van Leo became known for his portraits of celebrities, mainly film stars, but he also made works of a more experimental nature - mainly self-portraits. His portraits combine the glitz of Hollywood stars with oriental romanticism. They are also a record of Egypt's development in the previous century. In 1972, Angelo Boyadjian opened the Studio d'Art Angelo in Paris. The Studio was open until 1989.
ADDITIONAL CHARGE DETAILS:
In addition to the hammer price, the successful bidder agrees to pay us a buyer's premium on the hammer price of each lot sold. On all lots we charge 18 % of the hammer price.