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
John Lennon Portrait by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles at the Westwood Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, 27th-28th June 1966. En route for the Japanese leg of their final world tour, the group made...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill - rare signed artist proof
Located in Austin, US
Rare, signed artist proof print of David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill
David Bowie and actress Elizabeth Taylor meet for the first time at George Cukor’s house in Beve...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Beatles In White "Yesterday and Today" album cover shot by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles In White by Robert Whitaker.
On March 25, 1966, The Beatles visited 1 The Vale, Chelsea, London, a top-floor studio leased by Oluf Nilssen and frequently used by renow...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Beatles Dolls 1966 contact sheet print by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles "Dolls" contact sheet by Robert Whitaker from the photo session that ended up giving the band the controversial cover for the 1966 release "Yesterday and Today".
On Mar...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Beatles "Yesterday and Today" contact sheet print by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles contact sheet by Robert Whitaker from the photo session that ended up being the controversial cover for the 1966 release "Yesterday and Today".
On March 25, 1966, The ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Beatles Guitars backstage Tokyo 1966 by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles Guitars, backstage in Tokyo Japan in 1966 by Robert Whitaker.
All limited edition prints in this collection are hand numbered and authenticated with the official Rober...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
John Lennon and Paul McCartney The Beatles by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
Paul McCartney and John Lennon of The Beatles pictured during the recording of their annual Christmas message to the groups’ fan club at the Marquee St...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie Smoking Clown contact sheet by Duffy, with silver frame
By Brian Duffy
Located in Austin, US
Museum quality contact sheet print of David Bowie smoking a cigarette in the Scary Monsters Clown costume from the official Duffy Archive.
Taken from the original negatives, these o...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie and William Burroughs by Terry O'Neill signed print
Located in Austin, US
Signed open edition, 8” x 10” archival print of David Bowie and William Burroughs by Terry O'Neill, featuring Terry O’Neill’s embossed studio stamp
On 28 February 1974, Rolling Ston...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Patti Smith portrait by Lynn Goldsmith signed limited edition 16x20" print
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 16x20"" print of Patti Smith taken in 1978 by Lynn Goldsmith.
Limited edition number 3/20
Modern C-type print. Available for immediate shipping.
Lynn Goldsm...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill - signed print
Located in Austin, US
Signed open edition, 8” x 10” archival print of David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill, featuring Terry O’Neill’s official embossed studio stamp.
David Bowie and actress ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie and William Burroughs, framed signed print by Terry O'Neill
Located in Austin, US
Ready to ship immediately. Free domestic US shipping.
David Bowie and William Burroughs in Los Angeles, February 1974, signed Terry O'Neill, 8x10" print, custom framed with non-glar...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
David Bowie The Archer - New special edition
Located in Austin, US
NEW - Special limited edition series produced for the 2023 David Bowie Worldwide Fan Convention in June 2023.
This iconic image of David Bowie as The Thin White Duke was taken by re...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor, framed signed print by Terry O'Neill
Located in Austin, US
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor at director George Cukor’s home in Los Angeles, 1975, signed Terry O'Neill, 8x10" print, custom framed with non-glare museum glass, 8ply matting and ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
REFLECTIONS - Photography in Black and White , Bjorn Wennerwald
Located in Napoli, IT
Bjorn Wennerwald was born in 1964 and lives in Scandinavia. He graduated as a photographer from Copenhagen Photo College in 1987. During his long career his talents have benefited a ...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bob Dylan portrait by Guido Harari
By Guido Harari
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Bob Dylan by Guido Harari, taken in Sirmione, Italy, 1984.
Available in the following sizes:
A. 11” x 16” - Edition 50
B. 16” x 20” - Edition 50
C. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Night Flight - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on paper 23x32"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white nude photograph of a young woman in the pool. The photograph was taken with black backdrop.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digit...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Jimi Hendrix by Baron Wolman rare signed platinum print
By Baron Wolman
Located in Austin, US
JIMI HENDRIX ON STAGE AT THE WINTERLAND BALLROOM IN SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY 1968.
One copy available
Signed limited edition #7/150
Rare signed platinum print with deckled bottom edge
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Platinum
Tradizioni scomparse, Hong Kong 1958 - Full Framed 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
Purezza, Miyajima - Japan 1960 - Full Framed 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 during the artist's lifetime and...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Il cuoco felice - Thailand 1959 - Full Framed 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
La Rolls del Re - Bangkok - Thaïland - Full Framed 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
Trafic jam in Bangkok -Thailand 1957 - Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
Trafic Jam in Bangkok
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper i...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
La sorella maggiore, Thailand (1959) - Full Framed 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 is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The F...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Eiffel Tower, Tokyo ( 1957 ) - Japan - Full Framed 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
San Babila
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Babila church - Milan (Italy).
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works betwee...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Il passo sospeso del pedone, Roma 1962 - Full Framed Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in perfect condition
Limited Edition of 5 + 2 AP
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper is mounted o...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Er Fusto, Roma Ciampino Airport (1953) Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper is mounted on a 2mm dibo...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Perso nell'immensità - New York, 1955 - Full Framed Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Perso nell'immensità, 1955. Men and hats, in the streets of New York.
Work sold in perfect condition, print on baryta paper 310 grs pigment inks of museum quality, limited edition of...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Fratello e Sorella - Thailand 1961 - Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper is mounted on a 2mm dib...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The water carrier - Thailand 1959 - Full Framed 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 is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryt...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Gita in famiglia, Thaïland (1957) - Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper is mounted on a 2mm dib...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The two booksellers, Roma 1968 - Full Framed Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in perfect condition
Limited Edition of 5 + 2 AP
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper is mounted o...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Frank Zappa by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Frank Zappa taken in 1978 by Lynn Goldsmith
Signed limited edition #2/20 - signed, numbered and titled by Lynn Goldsmith
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
San Bernardino alle Ossa
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Bernardino alle Ossa church - Milan (Italy).
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives an...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Red Hot Chili Peppers by Ebet Roberts
By Ebet Roberts
Located in Austin, US
A classic, stunning shot of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1985 by celebrated photographer, Ebet Roberts.
Signed limited edition, hand printed sil...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Dove of peace. Limited edition no. I/V
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
"Peace Dove" is a limited edition of a black and white photograph by the contemporary artist Tadeusz Zych from the Black and White States series. The photo was taken during a trip to...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
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
Sant'Alessandro
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Sant'Alessandro church - Milan (Italy).
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works b...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Muddy Waters in NY
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
"Muddy Waters in NY" 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 t...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Sketch - underwater b&w photograph - archival pigment print 35x23"
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
Sant'Eufemia
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Santa Eufemia church - Milan (Italy).
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works bet...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
San Satiro Bramante
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Santa Maria church - San Satiro.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 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
Mike Tyson - Stampa su carta in bianco e nero
Located in Napoli, IT
Stampa su carta in bianco e nero del pugile Mike Tyson, con cornice
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Paper, Monoprint
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 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
Ann Richards and Dolly Parton in Austin Texas by Scott Newton
Located in Austin, US
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
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 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
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 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
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 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
San Carlo
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Carlo Church of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He l...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
San Maurizio
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Maurizio Church of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. H...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Milano Palazzo Reale
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Royal Palace of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Centrale
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, 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.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print signed by the artist.
Limited e...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Digital Pigment, Archival Pigment
San Pietro
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken at San Pietro - Rome
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works be...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Tori Amos 1994 Vintage 12"x16" Darkroom Print by Jake Chessum
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Oginal hand-printed 12x16” darkroom vintage print from photographer Jake Chessum of Tori Amos. Printed by Jake in the 90's, at the time of the photo shoot.
Jake recalls the session...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Pantheon
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, 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.