In the centenary year of the Leica I — the camera that first enabled capturing the world in motion — Leitz Photographica Auction, the official auction house of Leica Camera AG, celebrates photography as a medium of progress. Under the title “Motion”, the next auction features works that visualise the dynamics of social and aesthetic transformations.
Movement in and through images serves as a recurring theme in the selection of premium photographs from the 20th and 21st centuries, which will be auctioned on the 30 October 2025, at Leica Gallery Vienna. The highlight lots of “Motion” will be on display at the same location from October 17 in an exhibition of the same name. Admission is free.
New era of photography
The Leica I, the world’s first serially produced 35mm camera, redefined the boundaries of photography in 1925. Compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket and immediately ready for use, the Leica I allowed for dynamic images, in stark contrast to the static photographs of large-format cameras, the prevalent technology at the time. A new era of photography was on the rise.
However, the heyday of large-format cameras did not end suddenly, and it would take years before they finally became obsolete. In the 1920s, the American, Edward Weston, was considered one of the greats in large-format photography. Later he would co-found the legendary Group f/64 and be celebrated as a defining photographer of the 20th Century for his black-and-white images. One of his most famous photographs — “Nude Study (Anita)” — was created in 1925.
“We are offering a rare vintage print of this iconic nude study — a work distinguished not only by its formal radicalism, but also by its year of creation, which both resonates with the Leica anniversary and signifies the threshold to photographic modernism”, explains Caroline Guschelbauer, Head of Photographs at Leitz Photographica Auction. The print, like the photograph itself, dates from 1925 and will be auctioned with an estimate of €200,000 to €250,000 (starting price: €110,000).
Cross-section of modern photography
Apart from Weston’s “Nude Study (Anita)”, the “Motion” photographs auction features numerous lots from some of the most outstanding figures in the early history of photography. These include Ansel Adams, Walker Evans, Manuel lvarez Bravo, Berenice Abbott, Ruth Bernhard, August Sander, Brassa, and Horst P. Horst.
Equally represented are influential post-war photographers: Otto Steinert, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Ernst Haas, Garry Winogrand, Joel Meyerowitz, and Helmut Newton, among others. The diverse offering is complemented by distinctive contemporary voices such as Hiroshi Sugimoto, Nobuyoshi Araki, Nan Goldin, Alison Jackson, Sissi Farassat, and Paul Cupido.
Lasting collectability
“With this century auction, Leitz Photographica Auction highlights its commitment to curating works of museum quality, historical significance, and lasting collectability – an offering that speaks both to seasoned collectors and to newcomers with a passion for art”, summarises Caroline Guschelbauer.
“I am very pleased that this carefully curated selection once again reflects the diversity of photographic expression, while staying true to our mission of sharing the fascination of photography with enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and collectors,” says Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leitz Photographica Auction.
“Leica Gallery Vienna, which throughout the year welcomes international stars of the photography scene to Austria while also offering an important platform for local newcomers, provides us with the perfect venue.” In the two weeks leading up to the auction, the highlights of “Motion” will be on display at the gallery, and all lots can be viewed on request.
Live on site, in written form, online or by telephone
The “Motion” photographs auction will take place on October 30 at 5.30 PM (BST) at Leica Gallery Vienna. Bids can be submitted in advance — online (www.leitz-auction.com) or in written form. Live bidding during the auction is possible on site, by telephone or at www.leitz-auction.com and www.liveauctioneers.com.
Three weeks later, the auction house will host its next major event in Vienna — on November 22, the Leitz Photographica Auction 47 will take place at the Hotel Imperial.
“Motion” exhibition — opening:
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 5.30 PM BST (British Summer Time, Central European Time one hour ahead), Leica Gallery Vienna Seilergasse 14, 1010 Vienna. The exhibition runs from the 17-30 October 2025.
“Motion” auction:
Thursday, 30 October 2025, 5.30 PM BST, Leica Gallery Vienna Seilergasse 14, 1010 Vienna. The after-sale runs until the 23 November 2025.
Further information at www.leitz-auction.com.
All images in this article are copyright and are reproduced with permission from Leitz Auctions and Leica Camera AG. They must not be downloaded or reproduced elsewhere without express permission from the copyright holders.
Leave a reply and join in the discussion
The comments section below every article is a friendly, non-confrontational space where you can air your views without fear of stirring the sort of hornets’ nest that is so often a feature of websites. We welcome your views on the content of our articles, and your opinions on all aspects of photography are a lifeblood for Macfilos. Please let us know, in the section below, if you agree or disagree with our authors’ opinions — and please have no hesitation in adding your advice if you think we’ve overlooked anything important.