Original glossy 11.25 x 14 photo of James Dean by photographer Roy Schatt, which depicts Dean wearing a party hat and holding a bongo drum during a 1954 New Years Eve party at Schatt’s apartment, with actor and friend Billy Gunn pictured in the background. Signed in black ink by Schatt on the reverse, which also bears three of his credit stamps. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light creasing and short edge tears.
Born in New York City, Schatt (1909-2002) is remembered for his 'method photography' of personalities associated with The Actors Studio during the Lee Strasberg era, using natural light to capture likenesses of icons such as James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Steve McQueen in candid, unstaged settings. Schatt and Dean became especially close friends, with Schatt teaching the actor the basics of photography so that he knew what it was like to be behind the camera. Schatt's work has been exhibited at the International Center of Photography in NYC, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
