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: Gray
Kate Moss at 16
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career.
Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition archival print of Country music star Dolly Parton hugging rock star Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, backstage after her Bottom ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Steve Martin, “Let’s Get Small Sequence”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
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 comedian Steve Martin...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Debbie Harry Blondie 1977 portrait
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Debbie Harry of Blondie by Michael Brennan, taken at the studio on East 45th in Manhattan, New York, USA, Febru...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Muhammad Ali
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition archival print of Muhammad Ali shadow boxes at his Deer Lake, PA, training camp. Taken by Allan Tannenbaum in 1977.
Allan Tannenbaum prints are available in t...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
In the Blazing Sun at George Airfield
Located in Austin, US
British fashion model Wenda Parkinson wearing a grey gabardine dress by Dorville at George Airfield in Nairobi, Kenya, South Africa, next to a Hermes airplane...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Cure gets caught on Columbus Ave., NYC
Located in White Plains, NY
The Cure gets caught on Columbus Ave., NYC, 4/11/80 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 inch photo on 17 x 22 inch paper on the finest s...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Pigment
Kate Moss at sixteen
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career.
Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Antonio Lopez with Jerry Hall Vogue fashion shoot
Located in Austin, US
Famed fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez with Jerry Hall by Norman Parkinson, taken in Jamaica on a shoot for Vogue, May 1975 issue.
NORMAN PARKINSON POSTHUMOUS LIMITED EDITION PRINT...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Forty Licks Mick Jagger 1977 limited edition iconic photograph by Arthur Steel
By Arthur Steel
Located in London, GB
Of this iconic one of a kind photo by British photographer Arthur Steel he shared:
"I'm a great believer in luck and one day in London I was walking just off Fleet Street. Unexpected...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital
Patti Smith portrait, New York 1969
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition fine art print of musician, poet and writer, Patti Smith, 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
Kate Moss at sixteen
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career.
Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Steve Martin, Los Angeles 1974 “Let’s Get Small”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition fine art print of Steve Martin, taken in Los Angeles by Norman Seeff in 1974.
Norman recalls - “When I relocated to LA as Creative Director of United Artist ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys 1994
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of the Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition archival print of Country music star Dolly Parton hugs rock star Mick Jagger backstage after her Bottom Line concert. NYC 5/14/77 ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
La Rolls del Re - Bangkok - Thaïland - 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 1961, printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical p...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Incredible Case of the Stack O'Wheats Murders
By Les Krims
Located in New York, NY
In The Incredible Case Of The Stack O'Wheat Murders (1972), Krims both parodies forensic photography, and points to it as a remarkable archive of incredible and moving images (the various, successful CSI television series attests to his prescience). In each "Wheats" crime scene, a Stack O'Wheats (pancakes) is placed near each "victim" (he used friends and family to pose for the pictures). Each stack is topped with pats of butter and syrup, the number of pancakes in the stack signifying the number of the crime. Hershey's chocolate syrup was used to simulate blood in the photos, which was formed into words and celestial shapes. - Wikipedia
Box set containing Two long folded sheets of text with an essay by Robert A. Sobieszek. 10 loose photo plates.
Text sheets and plates in good condition, box that has some minor wear.
Signed/numbered by Les Krims
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
The Beastie Boys
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of the Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The water carrier - Thailand 1959 - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 of 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
The water carrier - Thailand
This photo was made in 1959, printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie 1969 portrait
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of David Bowie by Alec Byrne, taken at the Coventry Theatre, October 8th 1969, just before Bowie’s opening slot...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Amy Winehouse
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Amy Winehouse taken in London by Jake Chessum in 2004.
Jake recalls the session: “I travelled from NYC to London in Febr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
La sorella maggiore, Thailand (1959) - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
« La sorella maggiore », In a Méo village, Thaïland
This photo was made in 1959, printed later, the negative was digit...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
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
Er Fusto, Roma Ciampino Airport (1953) 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 1953, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (frami...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Il cuoco felice - Thailand 1959 - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
Il cuoco felice
This photo was made in 1959, printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor signed Lifetime Edition
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 ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Tradizioni scomparse, Hong Kong 1958 - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
Tradizioni scomparse, Hong Kong
This photo was made in 1958, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime an...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Mezzogiorno al Pantheon, Rome, 1958 - Limited Edition Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Double frame under American box presenting the two sides of the obelisk fountain on the Place du Panthéon. This work by Giacomo della Porta, (and li...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
East River Drive
Located in Austin, US
East River Drive by Norman Parkinson. Robin Miller and Pippa Diggle photographed on the South Street Viaduct beneath Manhattan Bridge for Go Magazine, 1960
...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Patti Smith in her apartment studio 1974
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition archival print of Patti Smith taken in her apartment studio by Allan Tannenbaum, New York City, 1974.
Allan Tannenbaum prints are available in the following s...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of the Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Eiffel Tower, Tokyo ( 1957 ) - Japan - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
Eiffel Tower, Tokyo - Japan
This photo was made in 1957, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and th...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of the Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Fratello e Sorella - Thailand 1961 - 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 1961, printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical ...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Patti Smith and John Belushi
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition archival print of Patti Smith and John Belushi taken backstage before their Saturday Night Live appearance in April 1976 by Allan T...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Super Constellation Lockheed
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This photo was made in 1953, 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.
The TWA (Trans World Airlines) Super Constellation...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Le Tre Vespe, Roma 1962 - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 3 on 5 sold in perfect condition
Limited Edition of 5 + 2 AP
The 3 Vespas but also the 3 buzzing and twirling “bees”, since this is the translation of this Italian brand...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Soft Dance - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on aluminum 60x40"
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
Metal
Water Sketch II - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a naked young woman in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper w...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Acqua e Fantasia, 1962 - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
An impressive flood of the Tiber had already battered the pontoons of the few rowing clubs in the city. The raging wav...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Famiglia numerosa, Bangkok 1958 - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
Famiglia numerosa, Bangkok
This photo was made in 1958, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and th...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Mezzogiorno al Pantheon, 1958 - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
Mezzogiorno al Pantheon, 1958. At noon, a fountain in the Pantheon Square, work of Giacomo della Porta, (such as so ma...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Le tre Vespe, 1962 - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
The 3 Vespas but also the 3 buzzing and twirling “bees”, since this is the translation of this Italian brand. Omnipres...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Rotondità 1963 (Rondeurs) - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
On Via del Tritone, an elegant exit from the small underground passage which made it possible to avoid automobile traff...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Gita in famiglia, Thaïland (1957) - 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 1960, printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical p...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Purezza, Miyajima - Japan 1960 - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
Purezza, Miyajima - Japan 1960
This photo was made in 1960, the negative was digitized dur...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Sotto l'ala - Ciampino Airport (Roma)
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This photo was made in 1953, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (fram...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Sketch - underwater b&w photograph - archival pigment print 24x16"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of perfect female legs in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on paper with metallic finish signed by the artist. .
L...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Picture Frame limited edition photography by Arthur Steel iconic London
By Arthur Steel
Located in London, GB
About the image:
Arthur used to pass a shop in London that sold nothing but antique picture frames and he started to think of what I could use them for, a scene of some kind was unf...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Digital
Verticalità, 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
The Canadian Pacific Train (1956-Canada) 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 1956, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (fram...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bambini per la strada, 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
100th Anniversary Celebration Coffret # 11 - Hong Kong - Vintage Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Fabrizio La Torre’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1921-2021) Set # 11 - Hong Kong
Limited edition of 100 Coffrets for each themes, all artworks pri...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
100th Anniversary Celebration Coffret # 10 - Canada - Vintage Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Fabrizio La Torre’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1921-2021) Set # 10 - Canada
Limited edition of 100 Coffrets for each themes, all artworks printe...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser (CIA-Roma)
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This photo was made in 1953, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (fram...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Paeseggio Urbano, 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 1956, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (fram...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Parcheggio condiviso, 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
L'Addio, New York City (1956) - 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 1956, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (fram...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
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.