Albert Einstein Photograph Auctioned At Record Price
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What face comes to mind when you hear the name Albert Einstein? Is it a pensive, 
humorless countenance, or a spontaneous, positively goofy expression?

For many people, the latter is probably true. In 1951 the photographer Arthur Sasse 
captured what has become one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century: 
the portrait of Albert Einstein with hair askew and tongue extended.

On Friday, June 19, one of the nine original prints of the photograph sold at auction 
for $74,000.00, making it the most expensive sale of an Einstein photograph to date.

This particular print was ordered by Einstein and inscribed to the news anchor Howard 
K. Smith. The text is in German, but translates to:

"This gesture you will like, because it is aimed at all of humanity. A civilian can 
afford to do what no diplomat would dare. Your loyal and grateful listener, A. 
Einstein '53."

With the escalation of McCarthyism, the pressure on intellectuals, academics, 
scientists, and researchers to "inform" on their colleagues to preserve their own 
reputations had reached a staggering capacity.

The inscription and the historical circumstances of the image have led experts to 
conclude that this image was never destined to be an irreverent poster on a dorm room 
wall, but rather, a gesture of blatant insubordination with regard to the suffocating 
restrictions placed on thought and experimentation during the Cold War era.

The photograph was purchased from the New Hampshire auction house RRAuction.com by 
David Waxman, a seller of rare scientific books and autographs, based on Long Island.

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The famous image of Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue has sold for $74,324 to 
David Waxman, a collector who lives in Great Neck, New York. The photo was taken in 
1951, and Einstein liked it so much that he ordered nine copies of it. Waxman has one, 
but the location of the other eight (including photographer Arthur Sasse's) are unknown.

The photo was taking during a time of heightened fear about the spread of communism and 
Einstein simply said his gesture is directed to “all of humanity”. Waxman, the new 
proud owner explains, “You have the man who was deemed the man of the century. This is 
his assessment of contemporary humanity. You can develop what it means to you. For me, 
the whole thing becomes a work of art."

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On Einstein's 72nd birthday in 1951, UPI photographer Arthur Sasse was trying to persuade 
him to smile for the camera, but having smiled for photographers many times that day, 
Einstein stuck out his tongue instead. This photo became one of the most popular photos 
ever taken of Einstein and it is well recognized in popular culture, often used in 
merchandise depicting Einstein in a lighthearted sense. On June 19, 2009, the photograph 
was sold at auction for $74,324, a record for an Einstein picture.