Lot 301: Cris Alexander (American, 1920-2012), Portrait of Martha Graham as Medea in Cave of Heart, 1946, Dedicated and autographed "For...Todd/

Cris Alexander (American, 1920-2012)

Portrait of Martha Graham as Medea in Cave of Heart, 1946
Dedicated and autographed "For...Todd/with gratitude and/affection/Martha Graham"
within the composition l.c.
Gelatin silver print, 13 1/4 x 10 1/4 in. (33.7 x 26.0 cm), framed.
Condition: Minor printing flaws, minor indentations to the emulsion u.r., minor rippling, not examined out of frame.

N.B. The lure of New York City loomed large in Alexander's formative years. Born in the Midwest as Allen Smith, Alexander adopted the stage name of Christopher ('Cris') Alexander in his teens, which spoke to his ambition for fame and fortune. (1) Upon arriving in New York in 1938, he attended the Feagin School of Dramatic Art and studied at the American Ballet School. While he began his career as a Broadway actor in the 1940s, he is perhaps best remembered for his work as portrait photographer of friends in his milieu, including Martha Graham, Vivien Leigh, Andy Warhol, and Gloria Vanderbilt. In his later years, he was the official photographer for the New York City Ballet company, and from 1980 to 1986 was a senior photographer for Warhol's magazine, Interview. (2)

(1) Douglas Martin, Cris Alexander, Actor and Photographer, Dies at 92. The New York Times, March 24, 2012.
(2) Tom Vallance, Cris Alexander: Actor who made his Broadway Debut in 'On the Town'. The Independent, April 24, 2012.