TrendCrib // Tinted Windows

Tinted Windows

Last week, Girls in the Windows, New York City, 1960 by famed photographer Ormond Gigli was auctioned at Christie’s phenomenal Photographs sale in New York. Girls in the Windows was was auctioned at USD $27,500. Winner of several international awards, the photo is also remarkable as a piece of Manhattan history; the day after it was taken, the E. 58th St. brownstones were demolished.

Gigli was inspired to create this stunning image in 1960, while a construction crew was dismantling a row of brownstones right across from his own brownstone studio. Immediately he felt that he wanted to immortalize those buildings; 43 women in formal dresses were photographed during the workers’ lunch time. The models included celebrities, the demolition supervisior’s wife (third floor, third from left), Gigli’s own wife (second floor, far right), and also secure the Rolls Royce to be parked on the sidewalk.

“The photography came off as planned. What had seemed to some as too dangerous or difficult to accomplish, became my fantasy fulfilled, and my most memorable self - assigned photograph. It has been an international award winner ever since. Most professional photographers dream of having one signature picture they are known for. “GIRLS IN THE WINDOWS ” is mine.”