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Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

American, 1928-2023

Elliott Erwitt's original photography, journalistic essays, illustrations and advertisements have been featured in publications around the world for over forty years.

Erwitt was born in France to émigré parents in 1928. His formative years were spent in Italy. At the age of 10, he moved with his family back to France and emigrated to the United States in 1939, settling in New York for two years and then transferring to Los Angeles.

In the early 1950s, Erwitt moved to New York City by way of Pittsburg, Germany and France (the last two locations courtesy of the United States Army). He settled in New York for good, establishing his fundamental base of operations ...although "settling" in Erwitt parlance meant "where you are at the moment for as long as you don't go somewhere else."

Flexibility and adaptation to the requirements of the profession and personal interests kept Erwitt moving around the globe before returning to New York. While attending Hollywood High School Erwitt worked in a commercial darkroom processing "signed" prints for fans of movie stars. In 1949 he returned to Europe. He traveled and took photographs in Italy and France thus making the start of his professional career.

Drafted into the US Army in 1951, Erwitt took photographs for various publications in addition to fulfilling his military duties while stationed in New Jersey, Germany and France. By good fortune, while looking for work on exploratory trips to New York City before the start of his military service, he met Edward Steichen, Robert Capa and Roy Stryker who liked his photographs and took a personal guiding interest becoming significant mentors.

In 1953, freshly decommissioned from military service, Erwitt was invited to join Magnum Photos as a member by its founder Robert Capa. In 1968 he became president of the prestigious agency for three terms. Erwitt continued for decades to be an active member and one of the leading figures in the competitive field of photography.

While continuing his work as a stills photographer Erwitt began making films in the 1970s. His documentaries include Beauty Knows No Pain (1971), Red White and Blue Grass (1973) sponsored with a grant from the American Film Institute, and The Glass Makers of Herat (1977).  In the '80s Erwitt produced seventeen comedy and satire programs for HBO. From the '90s onward, he continued to lead a remarkably varied professional life encompassing many disparate aspects of photography.

While actively working for magazine, industrial and advertising clients Erwitt devoted all of his spare time to creating books and exhibitions of his work destined for galleries and museums.

Find original Elliott Erwitt portrait photography and other photography on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by PDNB Gallery)

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Artist: Elliott Erwitt
Metropolitan Museum, New York City
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Open edition Signed by Elliott Erwitt in black ink on print margin Signed, titled, dated and misc. notations by Elliott Erwitt in pencil on print verso. Paper size: 20 x 16 in. Image...
Category

1950s Contemporary Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Texas
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed in black ink on print margin, signed, titled, dated and misc. notations in pencil on print verso by Elliott Erwitt Gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 in. Born to Russian parents i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

New York City
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Open Edition Gelatin silver print Paper size: 11 x 14 in., Image size: 8 x 12 in. Signed in black ink on print margin by Elliott Erwitt Signed, titled, dated and misc. notations in p...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Cuba
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Cuba, 2016 Paper size: 11 x 14 in., Image size: 8 1/4 x 12 1/4 in. Gelatin silver print Signed by Elliott Erwitt. Born to Russian parents in Paris in 1928, Elliott Erwitt spent his ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Cuba
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Open Edition Signed, titled, and dated in pencil on print verso by Elliott Erwitt Gelatin silver print Paper size: 11 x 14 in., Image size: 8 1/4 x 12 1/4 in. Born to Russian paren...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Managua, Nicaragua
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed by Elliott Erwitt. Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Born to Russian parents in Paris in 1928, Elliott Erwitt spent his childhood in Milan, Italy, before emigrating to the Un...
Category

1950s Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Orleans, France
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed by Elliott Erwitt. Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Born to Russian parents in Paris in 1928, Elliott Erwitt spent his childhood in Milan, Italy, before emigrating to the Un...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Providence, Rhode Island
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed by Elliott Erwitt. Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Born to Russian parents in Paris in 1928, Elliott Erwitt spent his childhood in Milan, Italy, before emigrating to the Un...
Category

1950s Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Florence
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed by Elliott Erwitt. Gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 in. Born to Russian parents in Paris in 1928, Elliott Erwitt spent his childhood in Milan, Italy, before emigrating to the Un...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Hungary
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Hungary, 1964 Gelatin silver print Paper size: 11 x 14 in., Image size: 8 x 12 in. Signed in black ink on print margin by Elliott Erwitt Signed, titled and dated in pencil on print v...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Versailles, France
By Elliott Erwitt
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed in black ink on print margin by Elliott Erwitt. Signed, titled, dated and misc. notations in pencil on print verso Gelatin silver print Paper size: 16 x 20 in., Image size: 11...
Category

1970s Modern Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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Elliott Erwitt figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Elliott Erwitt figurative photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Elliott Erwitt in silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Elliott Erwitt figurative photography, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jesse Alexander, Fred McDarrah, and Ormond Gigli. Elliott Erwitt figurative photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $5,000 and tops out at $9,500, while the average work can sell for $5,000.
Questions About Elliott Erwitt Figurative Photography
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Elliott Erwitt is best known for his use of irony and the absurd, and one of his most common subjects are dogs. Featured in many of his collections, Erwitt’s dogs have become some of his best-known images. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of expertly-vetted Elliott Erwitt photography from some of the world’s top sellers.

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