Halston and Truman Capote, 1980 – Large Original Photograph, SIGNED

Exceptional gelatin silver print by American artist and writer Michael McKenzie, who has captured the legendary American fashion designer and novelist looking debonaire-as-ever while posed at an office desk, ca. 1980. Signed and inscribed along the lower left margin by Capote, "for Halston / much love / Truman", and by McKenzie, "For Halston - Who IS Fashion", who has also signed and dated "McKenzie '80" to lower right.  In fine condition.  Unmatted, set in an acrylic box frame; 11.6 x 17.15 inches (29.5 x 43.5 cm.).

Capote and Halston had long been close friends.  In 1966, to honor the enormous success of "In Cold Blood", Capote hosted a spectacular gathering in New York City – The Black and White Ball  – widely considered to have been the most famous party of the 20th century, and among the many designers eager to dress the A-List attendees was newcomer Halston, who created the now iconic Bunny Mask worn by Candice Bergen. A few months after the present item's inscription, Halston hosted a party in Capote's honor for his two-week engagement at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, where he was reading from his short stories and was dressed by Halston in a gray cardigan sweater over a gray silk shirt, gray flannel pants and black velvet slippers. Halston told the Times that "Truman is the perfect client," adding that "it was all Truman's idea. He told me exactly what he wanted, right down to the mother-of-pearl buttons on the sweater. I didn't have to do much work at all." (Judy Klemesrud, "The Evening Hours," NYT, December 19, 1980) (20473)

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Unsigned Photograph

Art & Design

Literature

Culture, Ethnicity & Gender

$10,000.00

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