Andreas Gursky (b. 1955) is a German photographer that created three of the top ten most expensive photographs ever sold including 99 Cent II Diptychon which was previously #1 on the list. Gursky's Rhein II was or currently is the most expensive photo ever sold depending on whether or not you consider Peter Lik's Phantom to be the most expensive photo. Gursky's print sold at Christie's art auction in 2011 for $4.3 million dollars. Regardless of which photo is actually the most expensive ever sold it's obvious that Gursky has no shortage of collectors willing to pay large sums of money for his artwork.
About Rhein II
Andreas Gursky made this photograph in 1999 along the lower Rhine River in Europe. The weather was overcast and there is nothing inherently remarkable about this scene though several details were cloned out digitally including dog walkers and a factory building. This was print #2 from an edition of 6 prints on the Rhine River.
"California Aqueduct II"
As I was returning to the San Francisco Bay Area from a Thanksgiving family celebration in Southern California, I noticed that the sunset sky starting to give way to pastel shades of purple and blue as I was coming up upon a scenic overlook. The scenic overlook was adjacent to the California Aqueduct so I used aqueduct as the main focal point for my photo to pair with the beautiful evening sky. "California Aqueduct II" utilizes a similar compositional style as Rhine II. Similarly, I also used Photoshop to clone out a storm drain and some garbage from the foreground.
Acquire Print
What Was Rhein II Printed On?
Since this Gursky sold for such a vast sum of money it warrants asking what print substrate the photograph was printed on. After all, the most valuable works of art have generally tended to be canvas paintings rather than inkjet photographic prints. According to Wikipedia and The Telegraph, this was is a chromogenic color print (c-print) aka. silver halide paper that was face mounted on acrylic plexiglass. The print measures in at a large 73x143 inches while the frame measures in at 81x151 inches.
The print substrate also happens to be similar to the most luxurious print substrate that I offer for sale on my own website. Very few people can afford Gursky's work so you might take a look at my own artwork as a viable alternative for your home. While my TruLife® Acrylic face mount prints are not exactly cheap it won't break the bank either and within the price range for most homeowners. I believe people should acquire artwork they enjoy and like rather than buying the highest price item available at the auction house.
In my opinion, TruLife® Acrylic face mounts are the most visually-stunning type of prints that you can own. The finest details appear to emerge in 3D from the depths of the photo with the face mounting process thanks to the transparency layer that is infused with iridium particles (one of the rarest metals found on Earth) and is captured in a layer suspended between the white poly surface and museum-grade TruView acrylic. The resulting print almost appears as if it is backlit.
ROMA Tabacchino Framed TruLife® Acrylic Face Mount Print
About My Artwork
With an extensive collection of photography from California, Canada and beyond, I have been creating fine art photography prints for art collectors and design firms for many years now. I offer museum-quality fine art prints for homes, healthcare facilities and offices. My ready-to-hang TruLife® Acrylic face mount prints and ChromaLuxe edge mount metal prints are meticulously produced with best-in-class materials and masterful technique. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions about my fine art photography prints or for licensing inquiries.
Read about my fine art photography prints and please feel free to contact me if you need assistance with acquiring your next masterpiece.
