"Woman with Snake, Berlin 1979" 16x20 Vintage Silver Gelatin Print by Helmut Newton
"Woman with Snake, Berlin 1979" 16x20 Vintage Silver Gelatin Print by Helmut Newton.
Shot in Berlin in 1979, this striking Helmut Newton photograph captures a moment of poised confrontation between elegance and danger, set within a stark, controlled interior that heightens the image’s psychological charge.
Full Description:
In Woman with Snake, a woman reaches calmly toward a live snake contained within a glass enclosure, her posture composed, deliberate, and unflinching. Newton frames the encounter as a study in control: the glass barrier, the coiled body of the snake, and the woman’s measured gesture create a tension that feels both intimate and theatrical. Light and shadow are precisely managed, isolating the figures and transforming the scene into a modern allegory of temptation and power.
Berlin—still marked by division and intensity at the end of the 1970s—provides an unspoken backdrop of restraint and latent threat. Newton draws on classical symbolism while keeping the image firmly contemporary, replacing fear with authority and spectacle with composure. Shot by Helmut Newton, Woman with Snake exemplifies his ability to merge eroticism with intellect, creating an image that feels at once timeless, provocative, and unmistakably controlled.
Overview
Authentic vintage silver-gelatin print from Helmut Newton’s authorized collection, printed on 16×20 inch (40.6×50.8 cm) fiber-based paper with an image area of approximately 15×18.5 inches (38×47 cm).
These collector-scale works maintain the same darkroom precision and tonal richness as Newton’s exhibition editions while offering a more intimate presentation ideal for personal display or curated collections.
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.