#121 • Johnny Johnson "River Dance", "Courage" & "Polar Dawn" Photographs

Part of The Johnny Johnson Estate Auction (timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

Starting at $5.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Nov 3, 2026 6:40 PM AKST

Category: Art

Three signed photographs by Alaska wildlife photographer Johnny Johnson (1947–2025). The group includes two numbered prints and one Artist's Proof. "River Dance", c.2015, is numbered 53/950. The artist's description reads: "As the sun set, I knew it was time to get off the river, but it was just too beautiful—too exciting. I decided to stay a little longer and was rewarded when an adult grizzly emerged from the crimson current with his prize— a large sockeye (red) salmon. It seems the gulls are always present hoping for scraps." "Courage", c.1997, is numbered 172/950. The artist's description reads: "The strength and tenacity of the Eskimo sled-dog is legendary. These dogs played a crucial role in helping early man inhabit the arctic. They were high valued not only as pack animals but for their hunting ability and their courage. The polar bear in this photo encountered that legendary bravery the day it tried to steal food from a dog yard near a remote arctic village. The stand off between the polar bear and sled-dog happened quickly and ended without injury. The bear was unwilling to risk a wound and left the area." "Polar Dawn", c.2004, is an Artist's Proof. A mother polar bear and her spring cubs reflect the pink light of sunrise on the frozen plains of Cape Churchill near Canada's Hudson Bay. All eyes are alert to the new day. All three photographs are signed and dated in the lower left corner in gold leaf ink. "River Dance" and "Courage" have Fuji Crystal Archive Supergloss information sheets, while "Polar Dawn" has a Cibachrome/Ilfochrome sheet. A care guide and artist's biography are included on the reverse. Each photograph is shrink-wrapped on board, and the largest print measures approximately 17" x 24.5".