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Tom Baril Figurative Photography

American, b. 1952
Tom Baril (American, b.1952) is one of the nation’s leading photographic artists, and is known for his unique approach to portraying common objects, such as flowers. Baril was born in Connecticut in 1952, and studied photography at New York’s School of Visual Arts, graduating with a BA in 1980. Early in his career, Baril was the printmaker for famed artist Robert Mapplethorpe, but he eventually broke out on his own, and purposely distanced himself from Mapplethorpe’s work and style to make a name for himself. Baril is known for his expert work with 4x5 Polaroid pinhole and 8x10 collodion wet-plate photography. His talent lies in photographing commonplace items and scenes and portraying them in a way that goes beyond the surface. Baril’s photographs of sea shells, tulips, bridges, and other architecture capture the beauty, savagery, and sadness of nature. His photos have been featured in two monographs as well as two books, Tom Baril in 1997, and Botanica in 1999. His work has been featured in many publications and collections at institutions including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. Baril is known for collections such as 10 Flowers, Gum, and DC Portfolio. Baril’s early work was rarely exhibited publicly, and is primarily known through The American Diner and A Sense of Place. His diner photographs are stark representations of how America once depended on its highways. Many of the diners were shining examples of modern architecture that later fell into disrepair. Both sets of his early work were created between 1977 and 1986, when he was still learning the craft and traveling the United States While distancing himself from Mapplethorpe’s work, Baril has continued to print for the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. His technique goes far beyond simple photography and extends into the darkroom. Baril is considered a master of film development, using techniques such as applying selenium to prints and placing them in black tea to create a gold patina. Baril lives and works in New York, NY.
(Biography provided by Imagen Projects)
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Artist: Tom Baril
Chrysler Building Through Window
By Tom Baril
Located in New York, NY
Photogravure from the Tom Baril 'Manhattan' Portfolio. Edition of 75, signed by the artist on bottom right. Framing: acid free, archival framed, cotton rag mat. Glazing: Optium museum plexi. A graduate of New York’s School of Visual Arts, Tom Baril spent over fifteen years as Robert Mapplethorpe’s master printer. His subjects include urban architecture, seascapes and meticulously detailed botanical and nature photographs. Baril’s work demonstrates a command of technique that results from his extensive experience as a master printer. Baril developed a unique toning process that enriches the color and opulence of his photographs. Tom Baril is inspired by the nature studies of modernist photographers such as Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham and Karl Blossfeldt. A similar attentiveness to the clarity of line, form, pattern and texture characterizes Baril’s still lifes. In composing the seascapes, Baril employs the traditional box camera obscura, better known as the pinhole camera...
Category

Early 2000s Tom Baril Figurative Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Chrysler Building from Madison Avenue
By Tom Baril
Located in New York, NY
Photogravure from the Tom Baril 'Manhattan' Portfolio. Edition of 75, signed by the artist on bottom right. Framing: acid free, archival framed, cotton rag mat. Glazing: Optium muse...
Category

Early 2000s Tom Baril Figurative Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Smoke Stacks Variation
By Tom Baril
Located in New York, NY
Photogravure from the Tom Baril 'Manhattan' Portfolio. Edition of 75, signed by the artist on bottom right. Framing: acid free, archival framed, cotton rag mat. Glazing: Optium museum plexi. A graduate of New York’s School of Visual Arts, Tom Baril spent over fifteen years as Robert Mapplethorpe’s master printer. His subjects include urban architecture, seascapes and meticulously detailed botanical and nature photographs. Baril’s work demonstrates a command of technique that results from his extensive experience as a master printer. Baril developed a unique toning process that enriches the color and opulence of his photographs. Tom Baril is inspired by the nature studies of modernist photographers such as Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham and Karl Blossfeldt. A similar attentiveness to the clarity of line, form, pattern and texture characterizes Baril’s still lifes. In composing the seascapes, Baril employs the traditional box camera obscura, better known as the pinhole camera...
Category

Early 2000s Tom Baril Figurative Photography

Materials

Photogravure

59th Street Bridge
By Tom Baril
Located in New York, NY
Photogravure from the Tom Baril 'Manhattan' Portfolio. Edition of 75, signed by the artist on bottom right. Framing: acid free, archival framed, cotton rag mat. Glazing: Optium muse...
Category

Early 2000s Tom Baril Figurative Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Chrysler Building at Night
By Tom Baril
Located in New York, NY
Photogravure from the Tom Baril 'Manhattan' Portfolio. Edition of 75, signed by the artist on bottom right. Framing: acid free, archival framed, cotton rag mat. Glazing: Optium muse...
Category

Early 2000s Tom Baril Figurative Photography

Materials

Photogravure

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Tom Baril figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Tom Baril figurative photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Tom Baril in intaglio, photogravure and more. Not every interior allows for large Tom Baril figurative photography, so small editions measuring 30 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Henry Horenstein, Kevin Horan, and Preston Buchtel. Tom Baril figurative photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,250 and tops out at $2,250, while the average work can sell for $2,250.

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