Francis Wolff (1907-1971) - Miles Davis, blue note series, 1953

Superb and very rare photolithograph of Miles Davis during a live concert in 1953.
Print made by the renowned jazz photographer Francis Wolff, known especially for his series created for the 'Blue Note' label.

A rare collectible photograph ready to frame.

Technique: Photolithography on high-quality thick paper.
Photographer: Francis Wolff (1907-1971)
Signature: Photographer and publishing house listed on a plaque at the bottom left of the image.
Photo credit: Mosaic Images LLC
Dimensions: 29.4 cm × 32.0 cm × 1.2 cm
Condition: Excellent. Never framed.
Shipping: Careful and secure delivery with tracking number via Colissimo and UPS, requiring a signature and with insurance.

About the jazz label 'Blue Note'.

Created at a time when photography was still striving to be considered an art, Francis Wolff's use of striking contrast and abstract framing echoes other 20th-century artists such as Man Ray and Horst P Horst.

Between art, documentary, and marketing, Wolff produced a series of exquisite works for Blue Note Records. While the primary function was promotional, the images remain a major documentation of this key period in history.

About the photographer:

Francis Wolff is an American jazz photographer and record producer. He is the co-founder of the renowned American jazz label, Blue Note Records. He is known for his photographs used on the covers of this label's albums.

Francis Wolff was born and raised in Germany, with a father who was a mathematics professor and a mother who instilled in him a love for culture. Attending a concert by pianist Sam Wooding with his childhood friend Alfred Lion, he discovered a passion for jazz. In 1928, while Alfred Lion chose to settle in New York to pursue a career in jazz, Wolff remained in Berlin where he began a career as a professional photographer.
Lion founded the jazz label Blue Note Records in 1939. That year, World War II began in Europe, and his Jewish roots and his work as an artist were then difficult to reconcile with Hitler's policies, leading Wolff to emigrate by boat to the United States. He initially took on the role of assistant photographer before joining his friend Lion, who was in charge of the musical selection at Blue Note, and he worked to develop the label's commercial aspect. Lion's military service during the war lasted two years; Wolff worked for producer Milt Gabler at the Commodore Music Store, and together they maintained the 27 recordings of the young label's catalog until Lion was released from his military obligations in 1943. The label resumed its recording sessions in November 1943.

During studio recording sessions, he often engaged in photography with the aim of archiving and documenting the label's sessions historically. Wolff most frequently took photographs during rehearsal sessions. These were used for advertising purposes and on the covers of LP albums, and later on reissues in CD format. His photographs gained importance with the arrival of designer Reid Miles in 1956, who skillfully used the black-and-white shots taken by Wolff. Miles worked for the label until 1967 on nearly 500 covers, providing a distinctive characteristic to the label through his technique.

Reid Miles and Alfred Lion chose to leave the label in 1967, while Francis Wolff remained until his death on March 8, 1971, due to a heart attack.

Francis Wolff is considered one of the leading jazz photographers. His work remained largely unknown to the general public for a long time; the publication in 1995 of a book titled The Blue Note Years: The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff, a compilation of his main photographs for the label, helped to further promote his work.