Black and White Photography
1950s American Modern Black and White Photography
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
21st Century and Contemporary Naturalistic Black and White Photography
Fabric, Organic Material, Wood, Cotton Canvas
1990s American Modern Black and White Photography
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
1970s Modern Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Photographic Paper
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Black and White, Photographic Paper, Polaroid, C Print, Archival Paper
2010s Post-Minimalist Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
Late 20th Century Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
1970s Pop Art Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
1990s Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
1960s Modern Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Naturalistic Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin, Black and White
Early 2000s Post-Modern Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
Early 20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Photographic Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Ink, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Giclée
2010s Other Art Style Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Black and White Photography
C Print, Photographic Paper
2010s Realist Black and White Photography
C Print
1960s Modern Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
1950s Modern Black and White Photography
Black and White
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
1970s Pop Art Black and White Photography
C Print
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper, Giclée, Archival Ink, Black and White, Digital, Archival...
20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
1920s Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
21st Century and Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
1950s Modern Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
Early 20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Photographic Paper
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
2010s Other Art Style Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
2010s Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Film, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Giclée
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
2010s Romantic Black and White Photography
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Photographic Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Film, Giclée, Black and White, Photographic Paper, Photographic Film
1980s Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
Early 20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Photographic Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
20th Century Contemporary Black and White Photography
Lithograph, Silver Gelatin
21st Century and Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper
Early 2000s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
1990s Pop Art Black and White Photography
Inkjet
1990s Performance Black and White Photography
Photographic Paper, Platinum
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Black and White, Digital, Archival Pigment...
21st Century and Contemporary Black and White Photography
C Print, Photographic Paper
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Black and White Photography
Archival Paper
1990s American Modern Black and White Photography
Archival Pigment
1970s American Modern Black and White Photography
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Shop Black and White Photography
There’s a lot to love about black and white photography.
The unique and timeless quality of a black and white photograph accentuates any room. Some might argue that we’re naturally drawn to color photography because it’s the world we know best. This is a shared belief, particularly in the era of camera-phone photography, editing apps and the frenetic immediacy of sharing photos on social media. But when we look at black and white photography, we experience deep, rich shadows and tonal properties in a way that transfixes us. Composition and textures are crisp and engaging. We’re immediately drawn to the subjects of vintage street photography and continue to feel the emotional impact of decades-old photojournalism. The silhouettes of mountains in black and white landscape photography are particularly pronounced, while portrait photography and the skylines of urban cityscapes come to life in monochrome prints.
When decorating with fine photography, keep in mind that some color photographs may not be suitable for every space. However, you can be more daring with black and white photos. The gray tones are classic, sophisticated and generally introduce elegance to any corner of your home, which renders black and white prints amazingly versatile.
Black and white photography adapts to its surroundings like a chameleon might. A single large-scale black and white photograph above the sofa in your living room is going to work with any furniture style, and as some homeowners and designers today are working to introduce more muted tones and neutral palettes to dining rooms and bedrooms, the integration of black and white photography — a hallmark of minimalist decor — is a particularly natural choice for such a setting.
Another advantage to bringing black and white photography into your home is that you can style walls and add depth and character without worrying about disrupting an existing color scheme. Black and white photographs actually harmonize well with accent colors such as yellow, red and green. Your provocative Memphis Group lighting and bold Pierre Paulin seating will pair nicely with the black and white fine nude photography you’ve curated over the years.
Black and white photography also complements a variety of other art. Black and white photos pair well with drawings and etchings in monochromatic hues. They can also form part of specific color schemes. For example, you can place black and white prints in colored picture frames for a pop of color. And while there are no hard and fast rules, it’s best to keep black and white prints separate from color photographs. Color prints stand out in a room more than black and white prints do. Pairing them may detract attention from your black and white photography. Instead, dedicate separate walls or spaces to each.
Once you’ve selected the photography that best fits your space, you’ll need to decide how to hang the images. If you want to hang multiple photos, it’s essential to know how to arrange wall art. A proper arrangement can significantly enhance a living space.
On 1stDibs, explore a vast collection of compelling black and white photography by artists such as Mark Shaw, Jack Mitchell (a photographer you should know), Berenice Abbott and David Yarrow.
Read More
This Photo of Big Sur Reveals the Awesomeness and Intimacy of Nature
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Queen Elizabeth’s Life in Photos
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Photographer to Know: William Klein
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David Yarrow Tells Us the Tales behind His Wild, Wild Photography
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Lori Grinker’s Artful Photographs of a Young Mike Tyson Are a Knockout!
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John Dolan’s Photographs Capture the Art and Soul of a Wedding Day
In a new book compiling 30 years' worth of images, the photographer reveals that it's the in-between moments that make a wedding special.
Sebastião Salgado Takes Us on a Close-Up Journey to Amazônia
The famed Brazilian photographer tells us about the seven years he spent immersed in the Amazon rain forest.
Jonathan Becker Reflects on His Decades of Photographing A-Listers for ‘Vanity Fair’
After 30-plus years with the storied magazine, the photographer shares the tales behind some of his most famous (and often surreal) pictures.