Seydou Keïta (1923-2001) Vintage Signed Photograph

SEYDOU KEÏTA (1923–2001) Title: Untitled (Three Friends) Date: 1952; Annotated and signed in 1994 Support: Vintage gelatin silver print Dimensions: 40.5 × 30.5 cm Signature: Signed and annotated on the reverse: “1952 A 55 Seydou Keïta 1994” Provenance/Certificate: Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity This vintage gelatin silver print perfectly illustrates the iconic portrait of Seydou Keïta in 1950s Bamako. Untitled (Three Friends) captures three subjects in a poised and harmonious composition, highlighting Keïta’s mastery of form, light, and texture. The photograph exudes both intimacy and dignity, reflecting the artist's renowned ability to blend formal elegance with everyday life. Signed and annotated on the back by Keïta in 1994, this print is both a historical document and a collector's item. Its vintage character, combined with its certificate of authenticity, makes it a particularly sought-after piece for collectors of 20th-century African photography and modernist portraiture. Seydou Keïta, born in 1921 in Bamako, Mali, is considered one of the greatest African photographers of the 20th century. A self-taught artist, he began photography at the age of 14 thanks to a gift from his uncle: a small Kodak Brownie Flash camera. In 1948, he opened his own studio in Bamako, where he specialized in portraiture, illustrating daily life and Malian society with elegance and simplicity. His technical mastery allows him to create highly precise images, where every detail, from clothing to accessories, tells a story. His portraits, often in black and white, reflect the pride, elegance, and modernity of a society undergoing post-independence transformation. Highly regarded for his ability to put his subjects at ease, he captures their personalities with authenticity. His renown quickly spread beyond Mali, with international recognition beginning in the 1990s, notably through exhibitions in prestigious institutions such as MoMA and the Cartier Foundation. He has received numerous awards, including the European Union Prize for Photography in 2001.