"Crocodile Eating Ballerina from the Pina Bausch Ballet Keushleitslegende, Wuppertal 1983" 20x24 Vintage Silver Gelatin Print by Helmut Newton
"Crocodile Eating Ballerina from the Pina Bausch Ballet Keushleitslegende, Wuppertal 1983" 20x24 Vintage Silver Gelatin Print by Helmut Newton.
Created in Wuppertal in 1983, this unforgettable Helmut Newton photograph merges surrealism, choreography, and fashion into a single haunting tableau.
Full Description:
Created in Wuppertal in 1983, this unforgettable Helmut Newton photograph merges surrealism, choreography, and fashion into a single haunting tableau. Produced during Newton’s collaboration with Pina Bausch’s avant-garde dance company, the image depicts a ballerina lying beneath a crocodile — a scene that blurs the boundaries between theater, fantasy, and danger.
The composition’s tension is palpable: a perfect balance of elegance and absurdity, rendered in Newton’s precise silver-gelatin tones. What might appear grotesque becomes strangely beautiful — a darkly humorous meditation on control, vulnerability, and the theatrical extremes of human expression.
Overview
Authentic vintage silver-gelatin print produced from original negatives under the supervision of Helmut Newton’s authorized publishers. Each photograph is printed on 20×24 inch (50.8×61 cm) fiber-based paper with an image area of approximately 18.5×22 inches (47×56 cm), leaving a clean white border for matting or framing.
This size offers the perfect balance between exhibition-scale presence and collectible versatility, ideal for serious collectors and design-driven interiors alike.
Print Quality & Materials
Each work is hand-produced using the traditional darkroom silver-gelatin process — the gold standard of black-and-white fine-art printing.
- True continuous-tone fiber-based paper
- Archival chemistry for museum longevity
- Distinctive high-contrast Newton tonality
- Estate or collection provenance documentation included
Provenance & Background
Our gallery has represented Newton’s Private Property and related portfolios for over 18 years, serving an international clientele of collectors, curators, and design professionals since 2007. Every photograph is accompanied by full documentation verifying its authenticity and origin within the authorized Newton Collection.
Our Guarantee
We stand behind every artwork we sell. Each print is guaranteed authentic and as described, backed by a 30-day satisfaction return policy and our lifetime authenticity guarantee. Collectors have trusted us for nearly two decades — with more than 1,000 fine-art photographs placed in private and institutional collections worldwide.
Shipping & Handling
All artworks are packed in Airfloat Systems® archival boxes with Kevlar lining and corner protection.
- Ships fully insured via FedEx, UPS, or DHL Express
- Signature required upon delivery
- Worldwide shipping available
Framing options are available only when specified in the listing. Otherwise, prints are shipped unframed in their protective archival sleeves.
Returns
We accept returns within 30 days of delivery provided the artwork is returned in original condition and packaging. Refunds are issued promptly upon inspection.