On 19 May in London, Sotheby’s will offer at auction an outstanding single-owner collection of photographs, The Discerning Eye: Property from the Collection of Eric Franck, Part 1. The sale comprises 119 lots which showcase different shades of modernism around the world ranging from well-known Magnum photographers to lesser-known artists such as Heinz Hajek-Halke and Pentti Sammallahti.

Eric Franck has for many years been synonymous with both expertise and rarity in the photographic world. Through his decades of experience both as a fine art dealer and collector, his appreciation and curatorial influence has shaped our understanding of some of the most celebrated photographers of the 20th century, thus contributing substantially to the modern vision of photography.

Through his personal connections with photographers, such as his sister Martine Franck and her husband Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eric has had unique access to some of the most significant and iconic works of the photographic canon. In 2012 Eric and his wife Louise gifted the Tate over 1,400 photographs of London by 120 artists dating from the 1880s to the 2000s. This incredibly generous donation doubled the museums entire holdings of photographs, and has made a significant contribution to the nation’s understanding and appreciation of photography as an artistic medium.

Presented for auction in Part 1 is a carefully selected group of works from Erik’s personal collection, including rare prints by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Horacio Coppola amongst others. Part 2 will be held at Sotheby’s in Paris in November.