Arthur Rothstein (American, 1915-1985). A portfolio of 10 FSA (Farm Security Administration) photographs with images by Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Ben Shahn, and Arthur Rothstein (1935-1939) printed later under the supervision of Arthur Rothstein for The Photographic Historical Society of New York by Berkey K&L, New York. Rothstein himself selected the images in this portfolio, because he believed they were the "most representative of each photographer's work." The ensemble also includes the original portfolio cover that features Rothstein's informative essay. According to Rothstein, "the FSA photographers accomplished their mission to inform the public about rural conditions", "had a great effect on the emerging practice of photojournalism and visual communication", and "played an important part in promotion the recognition of photography as a respected and mature art form." Size of sheets: 14" L x 11" W (35.6 cm x 27.9 cm) w/ some in landscape orientation Size of portfolio cover: 14.25" L x 11.625" W (36.2 cm x 29.5 cm)

The portfolio of photographs Includes the following photographs: Ben Shahn "Linworth, Ohio" (1935); Ben Shahn "Sheriff's Deputy, Morgantown, W. Va." (1935); Dorothea Lange "Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California" (1936); Dorothea Lange "Hoe Culture" (1936); Arthur Rothstein "Badlands, South Dakota" (1936); Arthur Rothstein "Dust Storm, Cimarron County, Oklahoma" (1936); Arthur Rothstein "Sharecropper's Wife and Child, Arkansas" (1935); Arthur Rothstein "Farmer and Wife, Colorado" (1939); Walker Evans "Bud Fields Family, Alabama" (1936); Walker Evans "Bethlehem, Pennsylvania" (1935)

Arthur Rothstein's essay on the portfolio cover describes the history and purpose of the Farm Security Administration (FSA - initially called the Resettlement Administration) - one of President Roosevelt's government agencies under the New Deal program which was designed to address the harsh effects of the Depression Era on American farmers. According to Rothstein, Roy Stryker who played a major role in the federal agency but interestingly was not a photographer, "believed that photographs have the power to move men's minds".

Arthur Rothstein was the first photographer to join the FSA, and he was later joined by Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, and Ben Shahn as well as Gordon Parks, John Vachon, Russell Lee, Marion Post Wolcott, Jack Delano, John Collier Jr., and Carly Mydans. In Walker's words, "The FSA style of photography was influenced initially by Walker Evans. His approach was one of frank, honest reality often characterized by a direct frontal view. . . Dorothea Lange's style was different. Her photographs probed deeply with sincere emotion and sympathy into her subjects so that a feeling of compassion was evoked. Her use of the reflex camera made it possible to capture the fleeting expression that had greatest meaning. / The art of Ben Shahn was always political and an affirmation of his social views. He made photographs with a Leica 35mm camera in order to have visual notes for his paintings. His photographs are selections of the significant, powerful fragments of the whole scene which make even more effective statements because of the perception of his artist's eye. / My own work was strongly influenced by Evans, Lange and Shahn. Roy Stryker also made me aware of the need to understand the subject and to tell the story in visual terms. Evans demonstrated to me that design and composition can enhance the effect and make the message clear. Lange showed me that people can be portrayed with beauty, dignity and sympathy even when they are in misery. Shahn's ability to select the revealing detail and his sense of social justice made a profound impression on me."

This portfolio of FSA photographs was in the collection of pioneering patron of the arts, Ginny Williams. Sotheby's hosted a series of auctions featuring art and photography in the Ginny Williams Collection in June and July of 2020. Their press release began as follows, "Born in rural Virginia in 1927, Ginny moved to Denver, Colorado in the late 1950s with her husband, Carl Williams. An avid photographer herself, who studied with Austrian-American photojournalist and photographer Ernst Haas, her collecting journey began with classical figurative photography. Her passion and keen eye eventually prompted her to open her namesake gallery in Denver in the 1980s. While her passion for photography never waned, remaining a primary focus of both her gallery and private collection, her voracious curiosity quickly widened her curatorial focus. Over time, Ginny became increasingly courageous and experimental in her selections, venturing into Abstract Expressionism and Contemporary Art and following her artists themselves through gallery shows and museum exhibitions. As the years passed, Ginny became as much of a trailblazer as the artists she collected."

Provenance: private Idledale, Colorado, USA collection; ex-Ginny Williams collection of Denver, Colorado

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Nine of the ten photographs have a label on the verso that includes title, photographer, and date followed by "SELECTED AND PRINTED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN / PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS BY BERKEY K + L CUSTOM SERVICES, INC. / Published by The Photographic Historical Society of New York Inc." Minor creases to the peripheries of photos. Slight stains to the margins of a few, but very minor. Portfolio has normal age wear with expected creases, toning, minor stains, and nicks/tears to peripheries and fold seams, but still serves as a trifold and feature's Arthur Rothstein's informative essay as well as the frontispiece which includes the Photographic Historical Society of New York's wonderful graphic of a photographer and the following text on the frontispiece, "The Photographic Historical Society of New York, Inc. presents FSA FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Selected and Printed under the Supervision of ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN Photographic Prints by BERKEY K&L, New York"