Original matte-finish 12.75 x 16.25 silver gelatin photograph of the ever-cool James Dean smoking a cigarette while strolling down West 68th Street in 1954, signed in the lower border in black ink by photographer Roy Schatt. Also stamped on the reverse with Schatt's credit. In fine condition, with a tiny stray ink mark to the left of Dean's head.
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, D.C., and the Art Institute of Chicago.
