Malick Sidibé (Malian, 1936-2016) Les Femmes de Niarela, 29-12-71, (22 works), 1971 Gelatin silver prints 3-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches (8.9 x 5.7 cm) or the reverse (sheets) Titled and dated in ink, mount recto. Various inscriptions in red ink, inside folder. Malick Sidibé, who was born in Bamako, Mali, in the 1930s bought his first camera, a Brownie Flash, in 1956 and became a full-time photographer two years later. In the transitional period after French colonial rule, Sidibé became known for his black-and-white studies of local youth culture. His photographs portray smiling, dancing couples, street scenes and young men seducing girls at parties with a sense of newfound freedom and identity all evident of his intimate and informal approach to his subject matter. He opened his own studio Studio Malick in 1962. Sidibé said, "I don't like posed pictures, even in my studio photos, I was interested in movement. That's what attracted me to young people and their parties as well. I really enjoyed watching them dance; the liveliness of their movements fascinated me. That's probably why I've only ever photographed people." Sidibé became the first African and the first photographer to be awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2007. HID12401132022 © 2025 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice