1/17/2009

in

A collectible image for a collection, or simply porn? You be the judge.

Susie Kopecky

Nary a day goes by that Madonna isn't in the news for something or other. It was recently announced that Madonna will be auctioned off by Christie's . . . sort of.  
  
A nude black and white photo of the then-20-year-old starving artist, taken by Lee Friedlander in 1979, is being treated as a high-class piece of art by legendary auction house Christie's, which is publicly advertising the image on its Web site, and isn't censoring anything . . . it's all there.  
  
The explicit image is currently set at expected bids of $10,000 - $15,000.  
  
Madonna has spoken before about the photo session, which she apparently actively agreed to be a part of when she was starting out. Television biographies of the singer have talked about her early years and the shock value of her youth.  
  
Madonna, formerly Madonna Ciccone, is going through a divorce from her husband of nearly a decade, filmmaker Guy Ritchie. It is unknown why the photo is being sold right now, and whether or not Madonna is happy about it. No word yet on whether the former Mr. Madonna is jealous.