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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
Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith, New York 1969 by Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe, taken in her kitchen in New York by celebrated photographer and filmmaker, Norman Seeff in 1969. This P...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival 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

Patti Smith in her apartment studio 1974
Located in Austin, TX
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

James Brown Jumps on Broadway, New York City, 1979
Located in White Plains, NY
'James Brown Jumps on Broadway, New York City,' 1979 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 15 x 10 inch photo on 20 x 16 inch on the finest satin ...
Category

1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Archival Pigment

Kate Moss at sixteen
Located in Austin, TX
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

100th Anniversary Celebration Coffret # 7 - Vaticano - Vintage Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition Fabrizio La Torre’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1921-2021) Set # 7 - Vaticano Limited edition of 100 Coffrets for each themes, all artworks print...
Category

1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ripples - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude black and white photograph of a perfect female torso wrapped in sunlight. Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist, fur...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

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

No Way - black & white nude photograph - print on paper 15" x 23"
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 on archival paper signed by the ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment, Archival Paper

Pool Party II - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 20x35
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of two naked young women in the pool. The minimalistic photograph partially depicts bodies in blue color schema. Original gallery quality print signed by th...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Oasis at the airport by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam in November 1997. Jill Furmanovsky recalls 'I travelled with Oasis from Frankfurt to ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Oasis Wonderwall portrait by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken in London, September 1995 during a break in filming the Wonderwall video Signed and numbe...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Oasis portrait, San Francisco 1995 by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken during their Definitely Maybe Tour in 1995 with San Francisco as a backdrop Signed and numbered by Jill Furmanovsky...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Liam Gallagher Oasis hotel bed by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Liam Gallagher of Oasis by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken relaxing in his hotel room in Rhode Island whilst Oasis were touring the USA in March 1996. "I lo...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Oasis Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage at Slane Castle by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken on stage performing at Slane Castle in 1995 as the support for REM. Signed and numbered a...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Liam and Noel Gallagher backstage Oasis at Wembley by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken backstage before the gig at Wembley Stadium in July 2000. Signed and numbered and titled b...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Oasis at Knebworth by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Oasis, size A3 (11.7" x 16.5" inches) Liam and Noel Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken on stage at Knebworth Park during their iconic gigs in Augus...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Kelp Nymph - underwater ocean black & white photograph print on paper 18" x 24"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a beautiful young woman diving in kelp forest. The picture is taken in Pacific Ocean near Palos Verdes, Califor...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Original Black and White Photograph of Johnny Weissmuller
Located in Soquel, CA
Original Black and White Photograph of Johnny Weissmuller Black and white photograph 1932, depicting Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller (Hungary, 1904-1984) by George Hurrell (Ameri...
Category

1920s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

George Barris, "In Her Car Montage, " photolithograph, hand signed
Located in Chatsworth, CA
Photographed in her car at the Hollywood Hills home of Tim Leimert, this black and white photolithograph was created from the original negatives in 1962 and printed in 1987. Publishe...
Category

Mid-20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Studio 54 Logo/Crowds
Located in White Plains, NY
Studio 54 Logo/Crowds, 1978 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. of 50. T...
Category

1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Archival Pigment

Joe Dallesandro Andy Warhol Trash promo photo
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Jack Mitchell, American Photographer (1925-2013). Joe Dallesandro, ca. 1973. 11 x 14 inches; 12 x 15 inches framed. Period print from artist's studio. The image was intended for ...
Category

1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic 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

Liam Gallagher Oasis Slane Castle 1995 by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed, limited edition print of Liam Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky. Taken on stage performing with Oasis at Slane Castle in 1995 as the support for REM. Liam argued with the crowd r...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

David Bowie The Archer - New special edition
Located in Austin, TX
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

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

Duomo
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

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, Fuck the Clock, 1978
Located in White Plains, NY
'Patti Smith, Fuck the Clock,' 1978 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 ...
Category

1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Trafic jam in Bangkok -Thailand 1957 - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 3 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition Trafic Jam in Bangkok This photo was made in 1957 and printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist's lif...
Category

1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 43 x 68"
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 print signed by the artist. Digital archival pigment p...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital 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

5S5A6039
Located in New York, NY
Bob Tabor is a well-established, New York based, photographer best known for his exquisite large scaled portraits of subjects ranging from horses to seascapes. It is his unique appro...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigm...

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, Pigment

Chicago II
Located in Kraków, Województwo małopolskie
Chicago II 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

Il passo sospeso del pedone, Roma 1962 - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in perfect condition Limited Edition of 5 + 2 AP The passo sospeso del pedone. Hesitant gait of the pedestrian who faces snow and car traffic in Piazza San S...
Category

1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Italian Contemporary Photography by Luca Battaglia - Folding Cities #70
Located in Paris, IDF
Photographic Fine Art Paper 325 g, ed. 3/7. Artwork can be shipped in a tube or in a crate if frame is requested Luca Battaglia is an Italian architect and photographer born in 1970...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Miss Trixie 1968 Groupies, signed limited edition silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
Miss Trixie by Baron Wolman, posing topless with her bass guitar, taken in San Francisco in 1968 as part of Baron's Groupies series, taken for Rolling Stone magazine. Limited editio...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Mezzogiorno al Pantheon, 1958 - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 2 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

Dolly Parton Little Sparrow by Jim Herrington
Located in Austin, TX
Pigment print of large format Polaroid original taken during the 'Little Sparrow' photo session, Nashville, 2000. 17x22" Archival pigment print on baryta 315 gsm, acid-free, 100% co...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Apriel - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on aluminum 38" x 46"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Apriel" captures a serene underwater moment in striking black and white. This fine art underwater photograph showcases delicate interplay between light, shadow, and movement as hair...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Metal

David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill - rare signed artist proof
Located in Austin, TX
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

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

The GTO's 1968 Groupies, signed limited edition silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
The GTO's by Baron Wolman, taken in San Francisco in 1968 as part of Baron's Groupies series, taken for Rolling Stone magazine. Limited edition number 6/150, signed and noted by Baron Wolman 11x14” hand printed silver gelatin print. The GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously) were an all-girl group from the Los Angeles area, specifically the Sunset Strip scene. Featuring Miss Pamela...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Infinity - underwater black and white nude photograph - archival paper 28"x35"
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

Jane Forth & Joe Dallesandro Andy Warhol Trash promo photo
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Jack Mitchell, American Photographer (1925-2013). Jane Forth & Joe Dallesandro, 1970. 11 x 14 inches; 12 x 15 inches framed. Period print from artist's studio. The image was inte...
Category

1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Sant'Eustorgio
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Sant'Eustorgio church - Milan (Italy). 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

Flock of sheep (Hungary)
Located in MADRID, ES
Hungary - Manipulated photography. As the country where Wei Xiang has lived for more than 30 years, Hungary has become a continuous source of inspiration for the artist. Evocative la...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

Robert & Patti, New York 1969 “Vertical II”
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe, taken in New York by celebrated photographer and filmmaker, Norman Seeff in 1969. This Patty Smith...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

David Bowie The Archer - New special XL edition - 70x40"
Located in Austin, TX
Special XL limited edition series - paper size 70" wide x 40" high This iconic image of David Bowie as The Thin White Duke was taken by renowned Rock photographer, John Rowlands, o...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

RON GALELLA - Michael Jackson and Muhammad Ali and wife, Veronica Parker Ali
Located in PARIS, FR
Through these photos, Galella ( 1931 - 2022 ) presents the life of Warhol, his entourage and the places he frequented, in the form of a visual diary. The term Paparazzo (Italian for ...
Category

1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Bob Dylan portrait by Guido Harari
Located in Austin, TX
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. 20” x 28” - Edition 25 D. 32” x 44” - Edition 10 E. 44” x 59” - Edition 5 Guido Harari has photographed many music legends in his prolific career in Italy. Lou Reed said about him: "I'm always happy when Guido takes my picture because I know it will be a musical picture. And it will also have some poetry and feeling to it. The things that Guido captures with his portraits are generally speaking ignored by other photographers. I consider Guido a friend, not a photographer". Guido started out in the early Seventies as a music photographer and journalist, also exploring reportage, fashion, advertising and corporate photography. He’s produced record covers for Kate Bush, David Crosby...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

John Lennon and Paul McCartney The Beatles by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, TX
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

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

Apriel - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 29x35"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Apriel" captures a serene underwater moment in striking black and white. This fine art underwater photograph showcases delicate interplay between light, shadow, and movement as hair...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Pool Party II - underwater monochrome nude photograph - archival pigment print
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of two naked young women in the pool. The minimalistic photograph partially depicts bodies in blue color schema. Original gallery quality print signed by th...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

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

La Rolls del Re - Bangkok - Thaïland - Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Edition 1/5 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 parame...
Category

2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

L'Attesa, 1962 (The wait) - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition She was there, leaning against a wall, she seemed to be waiting," says the photographer. I did not understand what she could expect, since few vehicles could have passed through this narrow passage. So I leaned against the wall almost in front of her, I also waited and this ray of sunshine came to play in the hanging linen...
Category

1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

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

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.

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