Nothing quite captures the spirit and atmosphere of summer than a sunny day at the beach, which has been the subject of focus by photographers almost since the medium was invented. Artists from Weegee to Andreas Gursky have trained their lenses on the seaside, but one artist in particular crafted an artistic identity and photographic aesthetic that truly captures the visual dynamism and feel of summer beaches: Italian photographer Massimo Vitali.

The Artnet Auctions Endless Summer sale kicked off this week showcasing an intriguing range of works by acclaimed artists such as Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and Alec Soth, to name just a few, as well as three works by Vitali. Together, these works illuminate Vitali’s singular photographic aesthetic, born out of a passion for careful observation.

Massimo Vitali, Knokke (Polyptych in 8 parts) (2002)

Massimo Vitali, Knokke (Polyptych in 8 parts) (2002). Est. $10,000–$15,000.

Originally from Como and currently based in Lucca, Italy, Vitali (b. 1944) began his career as a photojournalist after having studied photography at the London College of printing. Working first as a freelance photojournalist, he subsequently spent a period as a director of photography for both fiction and advertising films. In the 1990s, when he was in his early 50s, he made the leap to fine art photography.

In 1994, Vitali took a series of Italian beach panoramas, marked by his signature high perspective that he achieved by standing on a podium several meters high. Showing slight underexposure, the images are exceedingly bright and convey the heat and sunlight of summer. Taken against the backdrop of political upheaval then taking place in Italy, his work showcased a decidedly “sanitized, complacent view of Italian normalities.” The depiction of an ideal, sandy moment of respite for beach goers, the images simultaneously provided a manner of critique, highlighting the discordance between lived reality and escapism.

Massimo Vitali, Riccioni Diptych (2006)

Massimo Vitali, Riccioni Diptych (2006). Est. $6,000–$8,000.

As Vitali’s practice evolved, the beach remained a consistent point of inspiration and his scenic images of beaches—both in Italy and abroad—are prized for their idealized, almost dreamlike quality. Using a large-format camera, he can create images with exceedingly high amounts of detail and capture large swathes of the locale, which beyond beaches also sometimes include public spaces and night clubs.

Massimo Vitali, Tropea Stones (2015). Sold on Artnet Auctions for $54,000.

Vitali’s work has been commissioned by a wide range of prestigious publications, including Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Vogue Italia, and The New York Times, as well as exhibited worldwide at institutions such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; and Centre Pompidou, Paris. Reflecting his unique achievements, the market for his work has shown strength, which may be unsurprising as his images offer a distinctive element of visual reprieve, capturing the allure of beachside getaway.

Endless Summer is live for bidding now through August 21, 2024.