Photorealist Black and White Photography
PHOTOREALISM
A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design.
Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story.
The virtues of the “photo” in Photorealist art — infused as they are with dazzling qualities that are easily blurred in reproduction — are as elusive as they are allusive. “Much Photorealist painting has the vacuity of proportion and intent of an idiot-savant, long on look and short on personal timbre,” John Arthur wrote (rather admiringly) in the catalogue essay for Realism/Photorealism, a 1980 exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At its best, Photorealism is a perpetually paused tug-of-war between the sacred and the profane, the general and the specific, the record and the object.
“Robert Bechtle invented Photorealism, in 1963,” says veteran art dealer Louis Meisel. “He took a picture of himself in the mirror with the car outside and then painted it. That was the first one.”
The meaning of the term, which began for Meisel as “a superficial way of defining and promoting a group of painters,” evolved with time, and the core group of Photorealists slowly expanded to include younger artists who traded Rolleiflexes for 60-megapixel cameras, using advanced digital technology to create paintings that transcend the detail of conventional photographs.
On 1stDibs, the collection of Photorealist art includes work by Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Chuck Close, Audrey Flack, Charles Bell and others.
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Style: Photorealist
Escape - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 26 x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This contemplative monochromatic nude photograph captures a naked woman suspended in minimalist gray waters, surrounded by a constellation of air bubbles ascending toward an unseen s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
The Slope - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Resting against the gentle gradient of sand, a naked figure finds repose where water transforms gravity and perception. The slope becomes both support and metaphor—a study in balance...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Apriel - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This underwater nude photograph showcases delicate interplay between light, shadow, and movement as hair cascades weightlessly around the topless subject's contemplative profile. The...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 22x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Museum-quality archival pigment print on archival paper, personally signed by th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
Escape - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This contemplative monochromatic nude photograph captures a naked woman suspended in minimalist gray waters, surrounded by a constellation of air bubbles ascending toward an unseen s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Joe Dallesandro Andy Warhol Trash promo photo
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Jack Mitchell, American Photographer (1925-2013).
Joe Dallesandro, ca. 1973.
11 x 14 inches; 12 x 15 inches framed.
Period print from artist's studio. The image was intended for ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Fiesta Photography Mexico Stamped Karol Kállay
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Photography done for the publication Mexico/Volk und Welt Berlin 1968/stamped on the back with authors stamp.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Two cigarettes Photography Mexico Signed Karol Kállay
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Photography done for publication Mexico/Volk und Welt, signed by the author on the back.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Piercing Light - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This breathtaking monochromatic photograph captures a naked woman of striking grace ascending through the darkness. Her soft, elegant form rising to meet the sharp, aggressive beams ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Steve Martin, “Let’s Get Small Sequence” 1974 by Norman Seeff
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, TX
As a renowned graphic designer (with 5 Grammy nominations), Norman Seeff has designed a number of large-scale composites and sequences. Signed limited edition sequence print of comed...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Piercing Light - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 26 x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This breathtaking monochromatic photograph captures a naked woman of striking grace ascending through the darkness. Her soft, elegant form rising to meet the sharp, aggressive beams ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Apriel - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 35 x 43"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Apriel" captures a serene underwater moment in striking black and white. This fine art underwater photograph showcases delicate interplay between light, shadow, and movement as hair cascades weightlessly around the topless subject's contemplative profile. The monochromatic palette enhances the dreamlike quality, creating an ethereal atmosphere that transcends conventional portraiture. This evocative image continues the tradition of underwater fine art photography that explores themes of transformation and liminality. The composition's intimate perspective invites viewers to experience the boundary between worlds—a visual poetry of submersion and emergence that resonates within contemporary underwater portraiture.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist, furnished with certificate of authenticity.
Limited edition of 24
Paper size: 36x44...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor signed Lifetime Edition
Located in Austin, TX
Lifetime prints are the last remaining prints available, signed by Terry O’Neill and obtained from the Terry O’Neill Archive in London.
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Ann Richards and Dolly Parton in Austin Texas by Scott Newton
Located in Austin, TX
Texan politician and former Texas governor, Ann Richards with Dolly Parton taken at the Driskill Hotel, Austin Texas in 1982 by photographer Scott Newton
Photographers notes: We wer...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 35x55"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and cuffed hands giving a finger.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print.
P...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
Slow Time - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 16"x23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a young woman in a swimming pool and her shadow on the bottom of the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigme...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Apriel - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 43"x52"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Apriel" captures a serene underwater moment in striking black and white. This fine art underwater photograph showcases delicate interplay between light, shadow, and movement as hair...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 43 x 68"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
The Slope - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 25" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Resting against the gentle gradient of sand, a naked figure finds repose where water transforms gravity and perception. The slope becomes both support and metaphor—a study in balance...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
NYC Shopping Couple
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture is an edition ( Edit. of 50) and part of a book about NYC, which Kallay done in 1965 for a German book publisher.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
No Way - black & white nude photograph - print on paper 15" x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
Apriel - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 29x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Apriel" captures a serene underwater moment in striking black and white. This fine art underwater photograph showcases delicate interplay between light, shadow, and movement as hair...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Infinity - underwater black and white nude photograph - archival paper 17"x22"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a topless female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival pap...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ripples - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude black and white photograph of a perfect female torso wrapped in sunlight.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist, fur...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
David Bowie portrait by Jake Chessum - 16x20" first print of the edition
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie by Jake Chessum taken in 1995.
16x20" - first print of the edition, #1/20
Jake recalls the session: “I shot David Bowie at a house in Fu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
Big Car
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The photography belongs to a cycle of photographies of NY, published in the book "New York", Verlag und Volk, Berlin 1967. Signed by the author on the back, certificate will be inclu...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Joe Dallesandro Andy Warhol Trash promo photo
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Jack Mitchell, American Photographer (1925-2013).
Joe Dallesandro, ca. 1973.
11 x 14 inches; 12 x 15 inches framed.
Period print from artist's studio. The image was intended for ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bianca and Mick Jagger, 1976
Located in White Plains, NY
'Bianca and Mick Jagger,' 1976 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 inch photo on 17 x 22 inch on the finest satin photo paper, Ed. of 50...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Pigment
Midtown Stillife
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture is a part of photographs which Kallay done in 1965 for a German book publisher about NYC.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
David Bowie The Archer - New special XL edition - 70x40"
Located in Austin, TX
Special XL limited edition series - paper size 70" wide x 40" high
This iconic image of David Bowie as The Thin White Duke was taken by renowned Rock photographer, John Rowlands, o...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Early Morning
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture belongs to a set of photographs which Kallay took in 1965 for a German book publisher in NYC.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Pool Party II - underwater monochrome nude photograph - archival pigment print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of two naked young women in the pool. The minimalistic photograph partially depicts bodies in blue color schema.
Original gallery quality print signed by th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
1960's Hollywood Photography by Lawrence Schiller 'Marilyn Monroe'
Located in White Plains, NY
'Marilyn Monroe, 1962' by American photographer, Lawrence Schiller. Digital pigment, Ed. 26/35. Image: 13.5 x 19 in. / Paper: 16 x 20 in. From the set of the film 'Something's Got to...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Filled with Light
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture belongs to. a set of photographs, done by Kallay in NYC in 1965 for a German book publisher.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Jack Nicholson 1961 portrait by Monte Hellman. Signed silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
Jack Nicholson, 1961 portrait by film director Monte Hellman
Silver gelatin print
16x20
Signed au verso in pencil by the artist
Monte Hellman (1929-202...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Soft Dance - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 23"х16"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a naked young woman diving in a pool. The woman is coming from the depth up toward the surface and her body reflects in the internal water surface.
O...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
No Way - black and white nude photograph - print on aluminum 39" x 62"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Original digital print on aluminum plate signed by the artist.
Limited edition o...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Metal
No Way - black and white nude photograph - print on aluminum 23" x 36"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Original digital print on aluminum plate signed by the artist.
Limited edition o...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Metal
Co-signed Raquel Welch on the cross by Terry O'Neill
Located in Austin, TX
Co-signed by both Raquel Welch and photographer Terry O'Neill, 20x24" silver gelatin print.
Actress Raquel Welch in a photo conceived by photographer Terry O'Neill after Welch noted that she was afraid that the press would "crucify" her for her film choices, taken on the Fox Lot in the late 1960s. Originally deemed too scandalous for promotional use at the time, the photo wasn't published until 30 years later, on the cover of The Sunday Times...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Infinity - underwater black and white nude photograph - archival paper 28"x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a topless female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival pap...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie Ohio 1976 by Janet Macoska
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie, photographed performing live on stage in Ohio, 1976 by Janet Macoska
Available in various sizes:
16x20" Lambda C-Type Edition: 25
20x24...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Mick Jagger Parka by Terry O'Neill signed limited edition artist proof print
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition photographic print of The Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger posing in a fur parka, with a fur trimmed hood, 1964, by Terry O'Neill
Signed limited edition "Lif...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Mick Jagger at home, London 1966 by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, TX
Mick Jagger in the hallway of his new apartment at Harley House, London, 1966 by Gered Mankowitz
"I shot a series of photographs of each member of the band at home so that they did...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Beatles on the set of HELP! by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, TX
The Beatles having fun at Cliveden House whilst taking a break from filming the 1965 comedy, Help! Taken by Robert Whitaker.
All limited edition print...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Ripples - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude black and white photograph of a perfect female torso wrapped in sunlight.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist, fur...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
'Vintage Manhattan Skyline' with River', by Unknown, Black & White Photograph
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This vintage black and white photograph of Manhattan with bridge and river measures 12.5" x 15.5". The water is in the foreground and covers over half of the composition from the bot...
Category
Mid-20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Soft Dance II - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival print 23х17"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a naked young woman diving in a pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print signed by the artist.
Limited edition of 24
Paper size: 24x18"...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Robert & Patti, New York 1969 “Patti with Cigarette”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe, taken in her kitchen in New York by celebrated photographer and filmmaker, Norman Seeff in 1969.
This Patty Smith...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Greta Garbo "Mata Hari" Film Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1931
Located in Soquel, CA
Greta Garbo "Mata Hari" Film Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1931
A black and white photograph, matte finish, double-weight paper, depicting a 1931 shot of the star titled 'Mata Hari,' printed decades later from the original negative, penciled in the lower left corner "A.P.," Estate stamped and blind embossed in the lower right corner "Clarence Sinclair Bull," further blind embossed in same corner "The Kobal / Collection," verso with the photographer's black ink credit stamp, verso further with two "Edward Weston" black ink credit stamps dated "1981" and "1992," originally from the John Kobal Collection.
Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses of all time, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragic characters, and her subtle and understated performances. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Garbo fifth on its list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema.
Clarence Sinclair Bull was born in Sun River, Montana, in 1896. His career began when Samuel Goldwyn hired him in 1920 to photograph publicity stills of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio's stars. He is most famous for his photographs of Greta Garbo, taken between 1926 and 1941. Bull's first portrait of Garbo was a costume study for the silent romantic drama film Flesh and the Devil in September 1926.
Bull was able to study with the great Western...
Category
1930s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
The Cure 1980 by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of The Cure on the road in Holland and Belgium during their 1980 'Seventeen Seconds' tour.
Signed and numbered by Jill Furmanovsky in pencil an...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 1 - New York - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 1 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
On the Downton Shore
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture of NYU was done in 1965 as a collection of photographs for a German book editor. Later a phonebook about NYU was published.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Nivaldo 1998 by Salvino Campos
Located in Napoli, IT
Photo b/w signed and dated on back New York 1998, numbered 2 of 5
He was born in Brazil in 1970 in Quartel Geral, in the state of Minas Gerais, where he began his professional activi...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Liam and Noel Gallagher backstage Oasis at Wembley by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken backstage before the gig at Wembley Stadium in July 2000.
Signed and numbered and titled b...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Oasis Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage at Slane Castle by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken on stage performing at Slane Castle in 1995 as the support for REM.
Signed and numbered a...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Willie Nelson running a marathon, Austin TX 1977
Located in Austin, TX
Willie Nelson, taken in 1977 during a running race in Austin Texas. Taken by photographer, Scott Newton
Scott Newton recalls, "Willie Running Race (For Stehlin Foundation Cancer Benefit-Run For Your Life) outside the Austin Opry House entrance on Academy Drive, Austin TX...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ballet - underwater black and white nude photograph - archival pigment 27" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a young female dancer diving in pool. The naked dances is covering herself with tutu skirt.
Original gallery quality archival pigment pri...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Photorealist black and white photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist black and white photography available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Allan Tannenbaum, Jake Chessum, and Kevin Cummins. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Archival Pigment Print and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Photorealist black and white photography, so small editions measuring 5.5 inches across are also available. Prices for black and white photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $11 and tops out at $200,247, while the average work sells for $1,815.