{"product_id":"antique-cherry-ripe-photo-gross-v-seligman-1914","title":"Antique Cherry Ripe Art Photograph Gross v Seligman 1914 Copyright Case","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an original early 20th century photographic print of \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, the well-known nude study at the centre of the landmark American copyright case \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGross v. Seligman, 212 F. 930 (2d Cir. 1914)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe photograph depicts a young woman seated nude against a dark studio background, her knees drawn toward her body and her hands clasped around one leg. She is smiling and holds a \u003cb\u003echerry stem between her teeth\u003c\/b\u003e, a seemingly small detail that became significant in the legal history surrounding the photograph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e was photographed by an artist named \u003cb\u003eRochlitz\u003c\/b\u003e approximately two years after he had photographed the same model in a remarkably similar composition titled \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Grace of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e. Rochlitz had copyrighted \u003ci\u003eThe Grace of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e and subsequently transferred his rights in the photograph. He later returned to the same model and essentially the same pose, lighting and composition to create \u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere were differences between the two photographs. In \u003ci\u003eThe Grace of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e the model had a more sedate expression, while in \u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e she smiles and holds the cherry stem in her mouth. The backgrounds were somewhat different, and the model was two years older. Nevertheless, the similarities were sufficiently close that the owners of the copyright in \u003ci\u003eThe Grace of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e brought an infringement action against the publishers of \u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe resulting case, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGross v. Seligman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, became an important early American decision concerning copyright protection for photography. The district court found \u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e to be an infringement and \u003cb\u003eenjoined its publication\u003c\/b\u003e. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the decision on \u003cb\u003eMarch 10, 1914\u003c\/b\u003e, concluding that the similarities in pose, lighting, shading and overall artistic conception were substantially greater than the differences.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe case was particularly interesting because \u003cb\u003eboth photographs had been created by the same photographer\u003c\/b\u003e. The court held, in effect, that after transferring the copyright in his original artistic conception, the photographer could not simply recreate that conception with the same model and only minor variations and then sell the resulting photograph to another publisher. \u003ci\u003eGross v. Seligman\u003c\/i\u003e subsequently became an often-cited case in discussions of copyright protection for photographic composition.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is an \u003cb\u003eoriginal period photographic print\u003c\/b\u003e, rather than a modern reproduction. Given the early history of \u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e, the 1914 injunction against its publication, and the apparent age of the photograph, matting, frame and backing, it most likely dates to the \u003cb\u003eearly 1910s\u003c\/b\u003e. The exact printing date, however, cannot be established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe photograph has a subtly textured surface and is mounted behind an old cream-coloured mat under glass. It remains in its dark wood frame with narrow gilt inner border. The reverse retains its old paper backing and wire hanging arrangement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMeasurements:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotograph: 8 inches by 10 inches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrame: 12 inches by 15 inches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e The photograph is in very good condition having been protected under glass for its life. The frame has some scratching and losses to the finish, fairly minor. The paper backing on the reverse is missing. Please refer to the photographs for details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rather rare surviving example of \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCherry Ripe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, a photograph with a particularly interesting place in the histories of \u003cb\u003eearly 20th century photography and American copyright law\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Poppy's Vintage Clothing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48027213168745,"sku":null,"price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/1559\/files\/Cherry-Ripe-Photo.jpg?v=1788979106","url":"https:\/\/www.poppysvintageclothing.com\/products\/antique-cherry-ripe-photo-gross-v-seligman-1914","provider":"Poppy's Vintage Clothing","version":"1.0","type":"link"}