99 Cent (photograph)

Andreas Gursky's 99 Cent (sometimes referred to as 99 Cent II Diptychon) is a large-format chromogenic color print photograph taken in 1999. The image depicts the vibrant, densely packed interior of a 99 Cents Only store. Gursky digitally manipulated and enhanced the photograph to achieve its high level of detail, color saturation, and overall aesthetic impact. He aimed to capture the overwhelming abundance and repetitive visual patterns of consumer culture.

The photograph is significant for its scale, its commentary on consumerism and globalization, and its influence on contemporary photography. Several prints exist, each sold for record-breaking prices in the art market, establishing Gursky as one of the most expensive photographers in the world. The success of 99 Cent cemented his position within the Düsseldorf School of Photography and contributed to the increasing recognition of photography as a fine art. The diptych version is essentially the same image duplicated, offering a slightly altered perspective that emphasizes symmetry and replication.