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
Verticalità, New York, 1955 - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition
During the 15 years during which he gave himself to photography, Fabrizio La Torre traveled to Italy, Europe, North America and Asia. From everywhe...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Richard Blair Photograph "Daily News - Chinatown" San Francisco c.1974
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Blair Photograph "Daily News - Chinatown" San Francisco c.1974
Fine black and white photograph by noted American photographer Richard Blair. Richard Blair has been in a phot...
Category
Mid-20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bruce Springsteen E Street Trio, 1976
Located in White Plains, NY
'Bruce Springsteen E Street Trio,' 1976 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 2017. 10 x 15 inch photo on 16 x 20 inch on the finest satin photo p...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tammy Mackay, Gone, Dodo Art, Contemporary Print, Affordable Art, Monochrome Art
By Tammy Mackay
Located in Deddington, GB
Tammy Mackay
Gone
Limited Edition Photopolymer Print with Chine Collé
Edition of 40
Image size: H:71cm x W:52cm
Sheet size: H:75.3cm x W:57cm x D 0.1cm
Sold Unframed
Please note that...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Pigment, Paper
European Canal Fisherman Early Black and White Photograph
Located in Houston, TX
Early black and white photograph of a fisherman fishing in what appears to be a European town setting. The photograph is matted to a board to prevent bendi...
Category
20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
d'Este Eagles Among the Spouts in the Hundred Fountains in the Vill d'Este Photo
Located in Houston, TX
Black and white photograph of d'Este Eagles among the spouts in the Hundred Fountains in the Vill d'Este. The photograph is attached to a board to protect against bending.
Category
20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Sculpture Street Scene Black and White Photograph
Located in Houston, TX
Black and white sculptural street scene photograph. The photograph is attached to the board to protect against bending.
Category
20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Richard Blair "Tom Dunphy aka General Waste-More-Land" Berkeley 1969 / 2001
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Blair Photograph "Tom Dunphy aka General Waste-More-Land" Berkeley, c.1969
Thomas Michael Dunphy (born 1944 in East Los Angeles, California) is best known for portraying General Waste-more-land, a character based on General William Westmoreland, at anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s. Dunphy is also a poet and is involved in other political activities including working with the Hopi Indians...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
John and Yoko at the Dakota, 1980
Located in White Plains, NY
'John and Yoko at the Dakota,' 1980 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Silver gelatin print, 1982. 15 x 10 inch photo on 22 x 17 inch on t...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Rolling Stones visit Danceteria in New York City, 1980
Located in White Plains, NY
'The Rolling Stones visit Danceteria in New York City,' July 1980 by famed photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 inch photo on 17 x 22 inch paper, Ed. of 50...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence, Italy Black and White Photograph
Located in Houston, TX
The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy. It is noted for the shops built alo...
Category
20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Last Stop
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture belongs to a collection of NYC photographs, which Kallay done in 1965 for a German publisher.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
American Commander
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Black and White photo in limited edition, a part from a book about NYC, 1965, printed by a German publisher.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
John and Yoko on a bench in Central Park, 1980
Located in White Plains, NY
'John and Yoko on a bench in Central Park,' 1980 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Silver gelatin print, 1982. 10 x 15 inch photo on 16 x...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Clash arrive at JFK - Joe Strummer getting into a taxi, 1981
Located in White Plains, NY
'The Clash arrive at JFK - Joe Strummer getting into a taxi,' 1981 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 inch photo on 17 x 22 inch on the...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bob Marley Portrait, 1979
Located in White Plains, NY
'Bob Marley Portrait,' 1979 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 inch photo on 17 x 22 inch on the fin...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Pigment
collection of 85 argentic photos
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
incredible collection of photographies belonging to Gerard de Villers.
Gérard de Villiers (French: [ʒeʁaʁ də vilje]; 8 December 1929 – 31 October 2013) was a French writer, journalist and publisher whose SAS series of spy novels have been major bestsellers. According to the New York Times, "His works have been translated and are especially popular in Germany, Russia, Turkey, and Japan. The SAS series has sold a reported 120 million copies worldwide, which would make it one of the top-selling series in history, on a par with Ian Fleming's James Bond books...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger, 1977
Located in White Plains, NY
'Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger,' 1977 by famed photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 15 x 10 inch photo on 20 x 16 inch paper, Ed. 8/50. This photograph captures a ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
"Sand Dunes Death Valley" - Minimal Desert Black & White Landscape Photograph
By Harry R. Kimball
Located in Soquel, CA
"Sand Dunes, Death Valley", a starkly beautiful black & white desert landscape photograph by Dr. Harry R. Kimball (American, 20th C). Signed lower right "H.R. Kimball", studio stamp on verso with title, date, and signature. On an acid free mat and aluminum frame. Image, 6.88"H x 9"W. Mat, 14"H x 18"W.
Following retirement after five decades of medical teaching, research and clinical care, Dr. Kimball devoted a full time effort to fine art landscape and nature photography. In the film era, he had the good fortune to study with the black and white masters of the late 20th century including John Sexton...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Clarence Sinclair Bull, "Gable in Car, " vintage photograph
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is an original vintage photograph from the original negative taken by Clarence Sinclair Bull circa 1930-1940s. It depicts the iconic actor Clark Gable, often referred to ...
Category
1930s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Jackie Onassis at the Metropolitan Museum Costume Gala, 1976
Located in White Plains, NY
'Jackie Onassis at the Metropolitan Museum Costume Gala,' 1976 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 15 x 10 inch ph...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Bee Gees 20th Anniversary Party, 1975
Located in White Plains, NY
'The Bee Gees 20th Anniversary Party,' 1975 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 inch photo on 17 x 22 inch on th...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Steve Martin, On Fifth Avenue, 1977
Located in White Plains, NY
'Steve Martin, On Fifth Avenue,' 1977 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 inch photo on 16 x 20 inch on the ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Patti Smith and John Belushi backstage at Saturday Night Live, 1976
Located in White Plains, NY
'Patti Smith and John Belushi backstage at Saturday Night Live,' 1976 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 in...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Pigment
Mick Jagger Performs
Located in White Plains, NY
'Mick Jagger Performs', 1975 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 2017. 15 x 10 inch photo on 20 x 16 inch on the finest satin photo paper, AP 3/...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Pigment
Muhammed Ali modeling a fur coat, 1977
Located in White Plains, NY
'Muhammed Ali modeling a fur coat,' 1977 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 15 x 10 inch photo on 20 x 16 inch on t...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Ramones perform at CBGB, 1977
Located in White Plains, NY
'The Ramones perform at CBGB,' 1977 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. ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Muhammed Ali shadow boxes, 1977
Located in White Plains, NY
'Muhammed Ali shadow boxes,' 1977 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 15 x 10 inch photo on 16 x 20 inch on the fine...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
West Orange
Located in Florham Park, NJ
Rick Hauser sees things “OverHead”, at “EyeLevel”, and “UnderFoot” as titled in his one-man shows.
Rick is the owner and operator of The Framing Mill, a custom picture framing sto...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bruce Springsteen at the Palladium, 1976
Located in White Plains, NY
'Bruce Springsteen at the Palladium,' 1976 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 10 x 15 in. (image) on 17 x 22 in. (paper), Ed. of 50.
This black and white photograph captures musician Bruce Springsteen leaning back on fans from railing, between audience and pit, at a performance at The Palladium in NYC on October, 1976. From the artists' 4th hardcover book 'Grit and Glamour: The Street Style, High Fashion, and Legendary Music of the 1970s,' published in 2016. This image was taken during Tannenbaum's tenure at The SoHo Weekly News in New York City from 1973 to 1982 where he served as Chief Photographer and Photo Editor.
Allan Tannenbaum's career in photography spans more than four decades. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1945, he received a B.A. in Art from Rutgers University in 1967, where he photographed for The Targum – the campus newspaper – and made films for his art courses. Gravitating to the nascent art scene in the SoHo district of Manhattan in 1972, Tannenbaum worked as a taxi driver and bartender while looking for work as a photographer. In 1973, when the SoHo Weekly News commenced publication, Tannenbaum became the Photo Editor and Chief Photographer. The newspaper started out as an eight-page free paper, but soon became a popular newsstand seller that rivaled the established Village Voice. Tannenbaum relentlessly covered the art world, music scene, politics, show business, and nightlife until 1982 when the SoHo News folded.
Tannenbaum has also done documentary and feature photography in places like Thailand, Indonesia, Palau, Jordan, Bahrain, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Brazil, Israel, Iceland, and Mexico. He has covered numerous political campaigns, nominating conventions and news stories in the U.S. such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the Columbine massacre. His work has appeared in many photo books and exhibitions, as well as appearing regularly in NEWSWEEK, TIME, LIFE, ROLLING STONE, PARIS MATCH, and STERN. His photographs have graced the covers of TIME three times, and NEWSWEEK five times. He now works as an international photojournalist contributing to various noted publications including Time, Life, and Newsweek. He is the author of three books of his photography, including New York in the 70s (Feierabend, 2003), New York (Feierabend, 2004), and John and Yoko: A New York Love Story...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Pigment
Chicago I
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
"Chicago I" is a limited-edition black & white photograph by contemporary artist Tadeusz Zych from the series entitled Black and white States. The photo was taken during a trip to th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Too Close
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Pigment, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photograph...
Graig Left Profile
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Pigment, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photograph...
On the Hunt
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Pigment, Archival Pigment
4 Under the Tree
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment, Pigmen...
Next Generation
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Pigment
Debbie Harry, Blondie 1978
Located in Austin, US
Fine art print of Debbie Harry from Blondie wearing a sailor hat and giving a salute, by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith.
Lynn Goldsmith only produces 20 prints of her image...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Studio 54 Portfolio, 1977-1981 (36 prints)
Located in White Plains, NY
'Studio 54 Portfolio, 1977-1981' by American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment prints, Ed. 11/30, 36 prints. Image: 6 x 9 in. / Paper: 11 x 14 in. This rare 36-print portfolio features photographs taken between 1977-1981 at the famed nightclub, Studio 54. Images of well-known celebrities include such luminaries as Liz Taylor, Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger, and Michael Jackson.
Allan Tannenbaum's career in photography spans more than four decades. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1945, he received a B.A. in Art from Rutgers University in 1967, where he photographed for The Targum – the campus newspaper – and made films for his art courses. In 1973, when the SoHo Weekly News commenced publication, Tannenbaum became the Photo Editor and Chief Photographer. The newspaper started out as an eight-page free paper, but soon became a popular newsstand seller that rivaled the established Village Voice. Tannenbaum relentlessly covered the art world, music scene, politics, show business, and nightlife until 1982 when the SoHo News folded.
Tannenbaum has also done documentary and feature photography in places like Thailand, Indonesia, Palau, Jordan, Bahrain, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Brazil, Israel, Iceland, and Mexico. He has covered numerous political campaigns, nominating conventions and news stories in the U.S. such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the Columbine massacre. His work has appeared in many photo books and exhibitions, as well as appearing regularly in NEWSWEEK, TIME, LIFE, ROLLING STONE, PARIS MATCH, and STERN. His photographs have graced the covers of TIME three times, and NEWSWEEK five times. He now works as an international photojournalist contributing to various noted publications including Time, Life, and Newsweek. He is the author of three other books of his photography, including New York in the 70s (Feierabend, 2003), New York (Feierabend, 2004), and John and Yoko: A New York Love Story...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Baptist Church 1
By Anouk Krantz
Located in Fairfield, CT
Born and raised in France, Anouk Masson Krantz moved to the United States in the late 1990s. She earned her bachelor's degree and worked at Cartier’s New York corporate office. Anou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Pigment
Tryst
By Anouk Krantz
Located in Fairfield, CT
Born and raised in France, Anouk Masson Krantz moved to the United States in the late 1990s. She earned her bachelor's degree and worked at Cartier’s New York corporate office. Anou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Pigment
Untitled
By Albert Ranger-Patzsch
Located in New York, NY
RENGER-PATSCH, Albert. Untitled 1925-30.Gelatin Silver print,
8 7/8 x 6 3/8";.
Printed on Verso: Upper right hand corner: Stamped A. RENGER-PATSCH, Wamel-Dorf Ober Sest I.W.Bo...
Category
1920s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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.