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
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
"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
"Windows IV" - Vertical photograph of New York in black and white.
Located in Miami, FL
Luc Dratwa is a Belgian photographer, born in 1958 and currently living in Brussels.
Uncompromisingly self-taught, his rigorousness and perfectionism ally themselves with a graphic o...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital, Photographic Paper
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
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
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
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
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
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill
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
Elvis Presley 1957 portrait
Located in Austin, US
Fine art print of Elvis Presley from the collection of acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1957
These prints are open edition and come with full certification.
Availab...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Inked In Kyoto
Located in New York, NY
Reka Nyari’s erotically charged photographs engage cultural narratives surrounding gender and sexuality. A master at the art of storytelling, Nyari’s newest series, GEISHA INK, documents Ginzilla, a dramatically-posed young woman whose naked body is lavishly-adorned with tattoos.
A champion of feminine fortitude, Nyari has long been fascinated with the art of capturing women without pretense. Recognizing strength in the vulnerability of the nude female form, she chooses most often to photograph women...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographi...
Beyond the veil
By Reka Nyari
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerment. The series joins six women together, each who have faced adversity, to demonstrate the creation of a strengthened self-image through tattoos. By highlighting the intricate woven threads of ink on each woman’s skin, Nyari proposes the idea that self-empowerment and reconciliation with one’s traumas can be linked to the act of greeting one’s “own skin” or inventing their own story.
Nyari has now elevated these intimate photographs in her new Punctured Ink series through the process of puncturing botanical-like references into the surface of each image (thus making each one of a kind). Her inspiration to physically puncture the previously pristine photographic prints stemmed from a childhood memory that occurred while she was living in Finland: “I remembered my parents had this big pad of paper next to the home phone...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Yaa-sama Tears
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerment. The series joins six women together, each who have faced adversity, to demonstrate the creation of a strengthened self-image through tattoos. By highlighting the intricate woven threads of ink on each woman’s skin, Nyari proposes the idea that self-empowerment and reconciliation with one’s traumas can be linked to the act of greeting one’s “own skin” or inventing their own story.
Nyari has now elevated these intimate photographs in her new Punctured Ink series through the process of puncturing botanical-like references into the surface of each image (thus making each one of a kind). Her inspiration to physically puncture the previously pristine photographic prints stemmed from a childhood memory that occurred while she was living in Finland: “I remembered my parents had this big pad of paper next to the home phone...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographi...
Beauty of Atatori
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerment. The series joins six women together, each who have faced adversity, to demonstrate the creation of a strengthened self-image through tattoos. By highlighting the intricate woven threads of ink on each woman’s skin, Nyari proposes the idea that self-empowerment and reconciliation with one’s traumas can be linked to the act of greeting one’s “own skin” or inventing their own story.
Nyari has now elevated these intimate photographs in her new Punctured Ink series through the process of puncturing botanical-like references into the surface of each image (thus making each one of a kind). Her inspiration to physically puncture the previously pristine photographic prints stemmed from a childhood memory that occurred while she was living in Finland: “I remembered my parents had this big pad of paper next to the home phone...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Plexiglass, Archival Paper, Photographi...
Bill Beckley American Artist Original Hand Signed photography Triptych
By Bill Beckley
Located in Miami, FL
"Bill Beckley (United States, 1946)
'Damyata', 2004
photography on paper
46.9 x 73.3 in. (119 x 186 cm.)
Edition of 35
ID: BEC1611-001-035
Hand-signed by author in pencil"
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Levitate
By Reka Nyari
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Archival Pi...
Lament
By Drew Tal
Located in New York, NY
With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram
Fans of Gion Kobu
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Photographic P...
Patti Smith, New York City 1976
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 30x22" print of Patti Smith wearing a leather jacket by Lynn Goldsmith, shot in NYC in 1976.
Limited edition number 8/20
Modern C-type print. Available for i...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Botanique
By Reka Nyari
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerment. The series joins six women together...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram
More Ideas
By Reka Nyari
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerment. The series joins six women together...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Dance of Irezumju
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Blue Smoke
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Mizuake Intentions
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Patrol
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...
Onna-Oyabun
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Whispers of Imouto
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Graig Right 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, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Archival 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...
Beauty
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, Digital Pigment, Photographic Film, Archival ...
Curious
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, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Pigmen...
Boys Band
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, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pigment, Archival...
Intimate
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
Photogram, Photographic Film, Pigment, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment,...
Zenitude
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
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
Bruce Springsteen
Located in Austin, US
Fine art print of Bruce Springsteen by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken with his guitar in 1978.
Lynn Goldsmith only produces 20 prints...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
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.