21

Paul Swan (1883-1972) rehearsing in Central Park. January 13, 1929.

Silver print
With two press stamps and a typed caption label with the date, on verso
the image 8 5/8 x 6 1/4 in. (21.9 x 15.9 cm.)

  • Provenance: Paul Swan was an American painter, sculptor, dancer, poet, and actor, known for his beauty, unconventional behavior, and gender nonconformity. He performed Greek-inspired dance throughout his career, finding it to be a near-perfect mode of expression. His near nude performances shocked even Paris, where he performed for a time in the 1930s. Later he held weekly Sunday dance recitals from his studio in Carnegie Hall (1939-1969). His approach, which remained unchanged over the decades, came to be perceived as campy, and Andy Warhol included him in his 1965 underground film Camp. Swan's many faceted career also included appearances in silent films, including Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments, and painting and sculpture commissions. His bust of Willa Cather is in the Nebraska Capitol Building.
  • Condition:
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    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

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August 21, 2025 10:30 AM EDT
New York, NY, US

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