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.
Style: Photorealist
Color: Black
David Bowie "The Same Old Kyoto" by Sukita
Located in Austin, US
16" x 20", signed limited edition print of David Bowie, titled "The Same Old Kyoto" by Masayoshi Sukita.
“Bowie had come to Japan to film a commercial for a...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Jimmy Page Led Zeppelin live on stage 1975
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Jimmy Page, lead guitarist of British rock band Led Zeppelin on stage at the Olympia stadium in Detroit, US, January 31, 1975, taken by Michael Brenna...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Double Trouble - underwater black & white nude photograph - paper print 17 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of two naked young women in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper sig...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Mick Jagger, Los Angeles 1972 “Exile?”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition fine art print of Mick Jagger, taken in LA by Norman Seeff in 1972.
I art directed the EXILE ON MAIN STREET album package. Mick was very hands-on and the final decision maker. One afternoon, we asked him to hand-write the liner notes, which we pasted on to layout. We created the album package design right there in that moment. - Norman Seeff.
This Mick Jagger print...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Double Trouble - underwater nude photograph - print on aluminum 24" x 36"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of two naked young women in the pool.
Original digital print on aluminum plate signed by the artist.
Limited edition of 12
The artwork is fu...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Metal
Amy Winehouse
Located in Austin, US
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 by Terry O'Neill.
Amy Winehouse...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
David Bowie 1977 Heroes session – Speak No Evil
Located in Austin, US
David Bowie, "Speak No Evil", 1977 by Masayoshi Sukita, taken during the photo shoot for the Heroes album cover - Signed limited edition 20" x 24" print ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Mick Jagger, Marquee Sound Check, London 1971
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, archival pigment print of Mick Jagger by Alec Byrne, taken at The Marquee Club, London, March 26th 1971, during the Rolling Stones soundcheck.
Alec recalls, “I’d photographed them in big theaters and at Hyde Park, of course, but I’d never been this close, just a few feet from Jagger (not counting that time in the bed). I literally felt the sweat coming...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Archival Pigment
Marc Bolan T-Rex, The Guru
Located in Austin, US
16" x 20", signed limited edition prints of Marc Bolan of T-Rex by Masayoshi Sukita, limited edition number 3/30, taken at Logan International Airport, Bost...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie 1977 Heroes session – See No Evil
Located in Austin, US
David Bowie, "See No Evil", 1977 by Masayoshi Sukita during the photoshoot that produced the album cover shot tor Bowie's Heroes album cover - Signed limit...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Ballet - underwater black and white nude photograph - archival pigment 36" x 48"
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 Pigment, Archival Paper
David Bowie
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie, photographed performing live on stage in Ohio, 1976 by Janet Macoska
Available in various sizes:
16x20" Lambd...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Rock and Roll Circus Group Portrait
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, archival pigment print from photographer Alec Byrne, taken during the Rock and Roll Circus taping on December 11th, 1968 featuring, ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Archival Pigment
Robert & Patti, New York 1969 “Patti with Cigarette”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
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
David Bowie
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls the session: “I shot David Bowie at a house in Fulham in May 1995. I grew up on ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Aretha Franklin 1968 portrait
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Aretha Franklin by Alec Byrne, taken in London, 1968
16x20" signed limited edition #2/75
Alec Byrne signed...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Archival Pigment
Gary Clark Jr backstage Troubadour portrait
By Ben Sklar
Located in Austin, US
Gary Clark Jr taken on backstage at The Troubadour, LA, by Ben Sklar
Available in the following sizes:
16" x 20" - Edition 20 - signed and numbered by Ben Sklar
20" x 24" - Edition ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Robert & Patti, New York 1969 “Vertical II”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition fine art print of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe, taken 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
On Broadway, New York City (1955) - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This photo was made in 1955, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (framing, contrast, light, etc.) was approved by him. This is a very high quality fine art prints on 310 gr/m² Fine Art paper with museum quality pigment inks.
“ On Broadway, near Trinity Church”, New York December 1955. A rainy Sunday morning, a solitary pedestrian seems to be falling over on the slippery surface. As is always the case with Fabrizio La Torre’s photographs, quite apart from the artistic merit, this picture invites us to speculate what is the story behind it: why this deserted avenue at 11:10 on that particular morning, what was the man in the rain doing, why is that car defiantly parked right underneath a no parking sign...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Courtney Love 1996
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Courtney Love by celebrated British photographer, Kevin Cummins, taken in Zurich Switzerland, 1996....
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Gary Clark Jr Live album cover
By Ben Sklar
Located in Austin, US
Gary Clark Jr taken on stage during his ACL appearance in his hometown of Austin Texas, October 2012. This image, taken by Gary Clark Jr's old school friend, Ben Sklar, was used as t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Gary Clark Jr backstage
By Ben Sklar
Located in Austin, US
Gary Clark Jr taken in his dressing room, backstage at the Fillmore West, San Francisco by Ben Sklar
Available in the following sizes:
16" x 20" - Edition 20 - signed and numbered b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Keith Richards, Marquee Sound Check 1971
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Keith Richards by Alec Byrne, taken at The Marquee Club, London, March 26th 1971, during a Rolling Stones soundcheck.
Alec recalls, “There was a classic moment during sound check when Jagger was watching Keith, then turned to Mick Taylor...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Chris Cornell
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Chris Cornell by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls the session: ” This was a brief and friendly shoot at the Toronto Internatio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
John Lennon 1967 portrait
Located in Austin, US
John Lennon relaxing at Brian Epstein's house in London whilst at the launch party for The Beatles album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' in May 1...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Night Flight - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on paper 18"x24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a naked young woman in the pool. The photograph has solid black background.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Morrissey Kill Uncle Tour 1991
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Morrissey by Kevin Cummins, taken standing in front of a sign reading ‘Penis Mightier Than The Sword’ during the Japanese leg of his ‘K...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Iggy Pop Scala Cinema London 1972
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Iggy Pop by Alec Byrne, taken at the Scala Cinema, Kings Cross, London, July 15th 1972.
Alec Byrne signed ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Archival Pigment
Bob Dylan Contact Sheet Print
Located in Austin, US
Contact sheet of Bob Dylan, taken at the BBC TV Studios, London 1965 by Barrie Wentzell
Barrie recalls : On the first of June, 1965, Bob came to the BBC Studios in London, to do a live concert. I went along to rehearsals but the studio was empty, so I headed off to the canteen bar where I ran into some musicians I knew from The Pretty Things. Sitting a few tables away were Bob Dylan and his chum Bobby Neuwirth. I sat and chatted with the Pretty Things, who later would be immortalized in a line in one of Bob’s songs, “The Sweet Pretty Things are in bed now, of course.
This Bob Dylan print...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
Pete Townshend of The Who. Signed limited edition silver gelatin print
By Baron Wolman
Located in Austin, US
Pete Townshend, guitarist from The Who, taken by photographer, Baron Wolman at a recording studio in London, 1968
One copy available
Limited edition number 6/150, signed and noted b...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Muhammad Ali
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Muhammad Ali by Michael Brennan, taken in 1977.
A copy of this Iconic photograph is held in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
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
Jimi Hendrix live 1968
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Jimi Hendrix taken by Barrie Wentzell, live at the Woburn Music Festival, Woburn UK, 6th July 1968.
The July 1968 Woburn festival was ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Rolling Stones "Swarkestone Contact Sheet" Beggars Banquet
Located in Austin, US
“Swarkestone Contact Sheet” by Michael Joesph from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, London, 1968. Featu...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Dolly Parton and John Belushi
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition archival print of Country music star Dolly Parton hugging John Belushi backstage after her Bottom Line concert. NYC 5/14/77 by SoH...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Iggy Pop "Lust For Life"
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Iggy Pop, taken on stage during the tour to support the album ‘Lust for Life’ at the Manchester Apo...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Ramones Jeans and Keds
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition fine art print of The Ramones, taken in Los Angeles by celebrated photographer and filmmaker, Norman Seeff in 1977.
The Ramones we...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Diana Ross
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Diana Ross, taken by Barrie Wentzell in 1975.
This Diana Ross print is available in the following sizes.
16...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Morrissey
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Morrissey by Kevin Cummins, taken at Rochdale Canal, Manchester England, 5th September 1989. Limited edition number 36/50
This ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Clash
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Bassist Paul Simonon and lead singer Joe Strummer of British punk rock band The Clash backstage at the Agora Theatre in Cl...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie Tin Machine
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of David Bowie by Kevin Cummins, taken in a studio during rehearsals for the It’s My Life Tour with his band Tin Machine, Dublin, Ireland, August 4, 1991. Edition 50
This David Bowie print...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Ballet - underwater black and white nude photograph - print on paper 18 x 24"
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 print signed by the ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tutu Skirt - underwater black & white nude photo - print on aluminum 24" x 36"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a naked young female dancer in the pool. The dancer is putting on her tut skirt. The photograph depicts her beautiful naked butt - about t...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Metal
Jimi Hendrix by Baron Wolman signed limited edition 20x24" print
By Baron Wolman
Located in Austin, US
Jimi Hendrix by iconic photographer, Baron Wolman. Taken at the Travelodge Motel, San Francisco, February 1968. Having served as Rolling Stone magazine’s first Chief Photographer, Ba...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Led Zeppelin on the Starship 1973
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Led Zeppelin by Michael Brennan, taken aboard their Boeing 707 ‘Starship’, on their way to Detroit, US, January 31, 1975.
T...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
L'Attesa, 1962 (The wait) - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
She was there, leaning against a wall, she seemed to be waiting," says the photographer. I did not understand what she could expect, since few vehicles could have passed through this narrow passage. So I leaned against the wall almost in front of her, I also waited and this ray of sunshine came to play in the hanging linen...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Two bellow a Tree Photography Paris Signed
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Original black-white photograph, photographer Karol Kállay, picture shooted in 1966 for a German publisher / book about Paris. Signed by the author on the back.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Tutu Skirt - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on paper 36" x 60"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a naked young female dancer in the pool. The dancer is putting on her tut skirt. The photograph depicts her beautiful naked butt - about t...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Kelp Nymph - underwater ocean black & white photograph print on paper 18" x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a beautiful young woman diving in kelp forest. The picture is taken in Pacific Ocean near Palos Verdes, California.
Original gallery qu...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Reflection - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white nude photograph of a young woman in the pool. The photograph depicts part of the body and reflection.
Original gallery quality print signed by the arti...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tutu Skirt - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on paper 14 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a naked young female dancer in the pool. The dancer is putting on her tut skirt. The photograph depicts her beautiful naked butt - about t...
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
Tornando con le spese, New York (1955) - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This photo was made in 1955, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (fram...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
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
100th Anniversary Celebration Coffret # 7 - Vaticano - Vintage Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Fabrizio La Torre’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1921-2021) Set # 7 - Vaticano
Limited edition of 100 Coffrets for each themes, all artworks print...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
THE QUIET BEATLE - George Harrison limited edition black and white photograph
By Arthur Steel
Located in London, GB
A Portrait of George Harrison of ‘The Beatles’ Rock Band by British photographer Arthur Steel.
Image unearthed September 2018.
Arthur recalls: “George and I hit it off the moment w...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital
Everyday
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
Rocket Men Bernie Taupin and Elton John 1985 limited edition photograph
By Arthur Steel
Located in London, GB
Elton John with lyricist Bernie Taupin at Elton’s home in Old Windsor taken in 1985 taken by British photographer Arthur Steel. Arthur's archive of iconi...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital
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.