Sam Haskins

Kate Reward Spread - 1963

Signed recto in pencil

printed on Hahnemühle Cotton Rag Baryta 308 gsm by Sam in 2007

Created for Sam Haskins’ groundbreaking Cowboy Kate & Other Stories, Kate Reward Spread, 1963 captures the experimental spirit that made the series such an important moment in twentieth-century photography.

The composition brings together photography, bold typography and graphic design. A female figure appears in profile, partially concealed behind a wooden structure, while the oversized word “REWARD!” dominates the image. The result feels at once cinematic, provocative and playful - more like a fragment from a story than a conventional photographic portrait.

This fusion of image and typography was central to Haskins’ radical approach to the photographic book. Rather than presenting individual photographs in isolation, he used sequencing, cropping, graphic elements and visual rhythm to create narratives across the page.

Published in 1964, Cowboy Kate & Other Stories challenged established ideas of fashion and nude photography and became one of Haskins’ most influential works. Its innovative design earned international recognition, including the Prix Nadar in 1964.

Kate Reward Spread is particularly striking for its distinctly Pop and graphic sensibility. More than sixty years after its creation, its combination of sensuality, humour and bold design feels remarkably contemporary - a compelling example of Haskins at his most inventive.

SIZE

16.53 x 23.38 in (41.98 x 59.38 cm) | Image 13.46 x 20.67 in (34.18 x 52.50 cm)

RARITY NOTE

The entire Sam Haskins archive is characterised by extreme rarity. 

Sam printed a selection of images on Hahnmühle A2 paper between 2002 and 2009. A very small number of these were signed. None of them were formal editions. 

This particular artwork is believed to be the only signed print.

COA

Individually stamped and certified by the estate. Each print purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity.