--- description: Inge Morath's images from the Bal d'Hiver in 1955, recovered and published for the first time as part of Magnum Photos "Analog Recovery" program. title: Inge Morath's Photos Recovered image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt684fc2a2f5239b65/69879a36f887dc413ee8b84f/morath_11.jpg?branch=production&width=1440&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) ## LightBox Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Dancing Queens: Lost Images from a Grand Ball by [Mark Rykoff](/author/mark-rykoff/) ## Mark Rykoff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 2, 2011 6:00 PM CUT  A participant rehearses for a dance titled, "Fire Vanquished by Snow." A participant rehearses for a dance titled, "Fire Vanquished by Snow."The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos by [Mark Rykoff](/author/mark-rykoff/) ## Mark Rykoff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 2, 2011 6:00 PM CUT In the winter of 1955, Parisian high society buzzed in anticipation of a dance on ice to be performed by members of the royal houses of Europe. Inge Morath, 32 at the time, and a newly minted member of the Magnum photo agency, was assigned to cover the charity event, going behind the scenes to document the glamorous participants as they rehearsed for the gala evening. She shot 14 rolls in total, and the material was processed and distributed through the Magnum network, but never found its way into print. In those days, the agency routinely distributed material shot on spec to a roster of sub-agents and publications, with the understanding that the prints would be returned. In many cases, that never happened; the prints remained in far-away files or gathered dust on the shelves of the recipients. Now, in an effort to reclaim the work, the [Magnum Foundation](http://magnumfoundation.org/legacy.html "undefined"), in partnership with the art magazine _Esopus_, has initiated a project to seek out that lost material and other works made by its photographers that never found its way into public view. Called “Analog Recovery,” the project is being edited by John Jacob, who is also the director of [Morath’s estate](http://www.ingemorath.org "undefined"). The goal, Jacob says, is to reintroduce a portfolio by a Magnum photographer twice a year. Morath’s Bal d’Hiver, is the first in the series. Jacob had come across the Bal d’Hiver photos while doing research for another project about Magnum and the world of fashion. To assemble the piece, he used the marks that Morath herself had left on the contact sheets. “She really knew what she was doing with her editing,” he says. “I rarely needed to go beyond what she had selected.” How fitting, then, for the _Esopus_ magazine feature on the photos to honor her astute eye—the [issue](https://secure.esopusmag.com/store/product/39 "undefined") includes a detachable reproduction of one of the 14 contact sheets, with Morath’s marks still visible. _A launch party for the issue, along with a small exhibit of the photographs will be held on Nov. 2 at_ [_Esopus Space_](http://www.esopusmag.com/ "undefined") _in New York at 6 p.m. Select photos from the project will also be sold as prints by the online gallery_ [_20×200_](http://www.20x200.com/blog/2011/11/coming-soon-new-benefit-editions-for-magnum-and-the-inge-morath-foundation.html "undefined")_, with proceeds benefitting the Magnum Foundation._  A participant rehearses for a dance titled, "Fire Vanquished by Snow." The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos  Princess Troubetzkoy, in her costume as Prince Youssoupoff, sits in a sleigh with Countess Marina Cicogna. She appeared in a piece titled "Arrival of Prince Youssoupoff at the Court of Ivan the Terrible." The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos  Performers appearing as Catherine the Great and her attendants enter in a sleigh. The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos  The costume for this performer, waiting to appear in "On the Canals of Amsterdam," was created and donated by couturier Hubert de Givenchy. The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos  Performers for a number titled, "Neuschwanstein" light torches before going on. They are wearing costumes designed by Ghislaine and executed by Pierre Cardin. The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos  Morath's caption for this photo reads simply, "An elegant guest." The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos  A performer dressed as Anne of Russia. The Inge Morath Foundation / Magnum Photos  Princess Troubetzkoy, in the role of Prince Youssoupoff, practices her bow to Ivan the Terrible. 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