Description

A powerful and celebrated portrait of French football legend Eric Cantona, captured in Paris in 2004 by the world-renowned American-French photographer and filmmaker William Klein (1926–2022). This work was commissioned by FIFA to mark the centenary of the organization and was a centerpiece of the "100 Greats" exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

The image features a disheveled and intense Cantona, whose bare chest and face are marked with red paint. He is captured in the act of writing his own "footballer-philosopher" mantra across his torso: "You play to fight the idea of losing." Klein, famous for his raw "snapshot aesthetic" and avant-garde fashion photography, utilized his signature high-contrast and gritty style to create an image that has since become one of the most recognizable contemporary portraits of Cantona. This specific piece is a limited edition (Edition B) released through the online gallery Eyestorm.

Key Details

• Artist: William Klein (American/French, 1926–2022)

• Subject: Eric Cantona (Former Manchester United midfielder)

• Date: Paris, 2004

• Medium: Chromogenic (C-Type) Color Print

• Edition: Limited "Edition B" (as noted on the Certificate of Authenticity)

• Publisher: Eyestorm / FIFA Centenary Commission

• Authentication: Includes a signed and dated Certificate of Authenticity on the verso.

• Dimensions: H:74in W:51in 

Condition Report

The work is in excellent gallery condition. The colors remain vibrant, particularly the saturated reds of the paint and marker, with no visible signs of UV fading or silvering to the print surface. The print is securely mounted and housed in its original black professional box frame. The backing board is clean, and the Certificate of Authenticity is perfectly preserved and attached to the reverse.