On February 12, 2009, the original, full frontal nude photo of Madonna (then 20), taken by Lee Friedlander in 1979, will be auctioned off in the Icons of Glamour and Style: The Constantiner Collection Part ii. it is expected to sell for between $10,000 and $15,000. The 1979 naked picture of Madonna appeared in a 1985 issue of Playboy.
According to a Fox News report interview with Matthieu Humery, of Christie's Auction House, when Madonna was photographed nude in her twenties, she was a dancer who answered a Friedlander’s ad looking for a nude model. The report also states that Friedlander sold six more pictures of Madonna taken in 1979 to Playboy in 1985.
I really think this tastefully naughty photo of Madonna naked is beautiful and artistic. Honestly, I think she’s shown more vulgarity on stage than in this picture. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Madonna’s explicit nude photo sold for more than $15k. After all, she has a huge following and is one of the most iconic and influential pop stars of all time.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Vintage Celebrity Photo Auctions
- The trend of auctioning rare, scandalous, and iconic photos of celebrities has emerged, presenting an opportunity for those in the auction and art industries to capitalize on the demand.
- Nostalgic Celebrity Collectibles
- The collectors' market for iconic and vintage memorabilia of celebrities is growing, creating an opportunity for those in the pop culture and memorabilia industries to meet the increasing demand.
- Digitization of Vintage Photography
- The trend of digitizing and preserving rare and iconic photographs in high resolution is growing, providing an opportunity for those in the photography and technology industries to develop innovative preservation methods.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Auction Industry
- The auction industry can capitalize on the trend of vintage celebrity photo auctions and create a new market for rare and scandalous photographs of celebrities.
- Art Industry
- Art galleries and artists can seize the opportunity of the growing nostalgia for vintage celebrity collectibles and create exclusive pieces of art based on popular celebrities.
- Photography Industry
- Companies specializing in digitizing vintage photographs can develop innovative preservation methods and cater to the rising demand for high-quality digital versions of iconic photographs.
