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
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
Aspettando il fumo bianco, Roma 1968 - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in perfect condition
Limited Edition of 5 + 2 AP
Artwork printed on baryta paper 310 grs museum quality pigment inks, limited edition of 7 copies in total
Br...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Taglia corta, Roma 1962 - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in perfect condition
Limited Edition of 5 + 2 AP
Taglia corta. Around the Castel Sant'Angelo, the winter pruning of the trees.
Artwork printed on baryta pape...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bette Midler Film Set Backstage Baby Daughter Vintage b&w Print Contemporary
Located in New York, NY
Bette Midler Film Set Backstage Baby Daughter Vintage b&w Print Contemporary
Roddy McDowall (British-American, 1928-1998)m "Bette Midler & Daughter Sop...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Black_and_White_Ver4
By Bob Tabor
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...
Jimi Hendrix playing pool by Ed Caraeff
By Ed Caraeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Jimi Hendrix, shooting pool at the Bel Air home of John and Michelle Phillips, in Laurel Canyon, LA on July 1st 1967
...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles Shea Stadium 1965
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles, approaching the stage at Shea Stadium by Robert Whitaker.
The Beatles walking onto the field at Shea Stadium in New York City. This show ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Maquina 2
Located in New York, NY
Steve Schlackman is a lawyer by profession and a photographer by choice. Fascinated by the magical world of photography since his youth, he honed this...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Digital, Photogram, Digital Pigment
'Rock, Mirror Lake, Yosemite' Original Photograph by Thomas Ferderbar
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Rock, Mirror, Lake, Yosemite" is an original photograph created by Thomas Ferderbar. Ferderbar shows us a striking photo of a large rock sitting in a mirror still lake. The flow of nature takes the viewers eyes all around the image and back again with it's beautiful features. Ferderbar signed and dated the piece. This work is archivally framed with acid free foam board backing, museum glass, and a silver finished frame.
Art: 34.63" x 24.88"
Frame: 42.5" x 32.5"
Titled, dated, and signed by the artist
Interview With the Artist:
"I wanted to become a photographer at the age of 12, when my sister Grace gave me a Kodak Box Brownie camera...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Luster, Archival Ink, Digital
Jimi Hendrix Contact Sheet Print
By Ed Caraeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition contact sheet print by Ed Caraeff of Jimi Hendrix, drummer John “Mitch” Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding before a performance at the Hollywood Bowl, Californi...
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
5S5A6039
By Bob Tabor
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...
El Patriarch
Located in New York, NY
Steve Schlackman is a lawyer by profession and a photographer by choice. Fascinated by the magical world of photography since his youth, he honed this...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
Contemporary photograph by Hunter Barnes of boy with horse at local rodeo
Located in New York, NY
This work is an artist proof, archival silver gelatin, handprinted by the artist and signed on verso.
Directly acquired from the artist.
The framing is 100% archival, with the use of only acid frame materials.
Glazing, Optium non glare museum plexi.
Hand carved wooden hand finished frame.
Hunter Barnes is a documentary photographer whose work captures aspects of culture and communities ignored by the mainstream and often misrepresented in the modern American narrative.
Hunter trained in photochemistry and traditional photographic techniques. At a young age, he began a nomadic life on the road. In his early twenties, Hunter self published his first book, Redneck Roundup, documenting the dying communities of the Old West. Other projects followed: four years spent with the Nez Perce tribe; months with a serpent handling congregation in the Appalachain mountains; bikers, lowriders, and street gangs...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Beatles on the set of HELP! by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles having fun at Cliveden House whilst taking a break from filming the 1965 comedy, Help! Taken by Robert Whitaker.
All limited edition print...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Night Flight - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on paper 18"x24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a naked young woman in the pool. The photograph has solid black background.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Patti Smith Fuck The Clock
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition archival print of Patti Smith wearing her “Fuck The Clock” t-shirt by Allan Tannenbaum, taken at CBGB in New York, New Years Eve 1977. Available in different ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie "The Same Old Kyoto" by Sukita
Located in Austin, US
16" x 20", signed limited edition print of David Bowie, titled "The Same Old Kyoto" by Masayoshi Sukita.
“Bowie had come to Japan to film a commercial for a...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Mick Jagger at home, London 1966 by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, US
Mick Jagger in the hallway of his new apartment at Harley House, London, 1966 by Gered Mankowitz
"I shot a series of photographs of each member of the band at home so that they did...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Hangyaku No
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...
The Beatles live in Tokyo
Located in Austin, US
Museum quality print of The Beatles, taken on stage in Tokyo, Japan, by photographer Robert Whitaker.
The Beatles ascend the steps to the stage at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan for a matin...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie "Loves to be Loved" by Sukita
Located in Austin, US
David Bowie, "Loves to be Loved", 1973 by Masayoshi Sukita - Signed limited edition 16" x 20" print .
This print is also available as a 20" x 24" an...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Steve Martin, “Let’s Get Small Sequence” 1974
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
As a renowned graphic designer (with 5 Grammy nominations), Norman Seeff has designed a number of large-scale composites and sequences. Signed limited edition sequence print of comedian Steve Martin...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Nivaldo 1998 by Salvino Campos
Located in Napoli, IT
Photo b/w signed and dated on back New York 1998, numbered 2 of 5
He was born in Brazil in 1970 in Quartel Geral, in the state of Minas Gerais, where he began his professional activi...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
The Beatles 1963
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr at the President Hotel, Russell Square, London, 12 September 1963 by Norman Pa...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Mick Jagger, Los Angeles 1972 “Exile?”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition fine art print of Mick Jagger, taken in LA by Norman Seeff in 1972.
I art directed the EXILE ON MAIN STREET album package. Mick was very hands-on and the final decision maker. One afternoon, we asked him to hand-write the liner notes, which we pasted on to layout. We created the album package design right there in that moment. - Norman Seeff.
This Mick Jagger print...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Rolling Stones "Out Of Our Heads" by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, US
The Rolling Stones, taken in London back in 1965 by Gered Mankowitz. This image was used for the cover of Out Of Our Heads. Featuring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Italian Contemporary Photography by Luca Battaglia - Folding Cities #24
Located in Paris, IDF
Photographic Fine Art Paper 325 g, ed. 4/7. 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
Italian Contemporary Photography by Luca Battaglia - Folding Cities #72
Located in Paris, IDF
Photographic Fine Art Paper 325 g, ed. 2/7. 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
Italian Contemporary Photography by Luca Battaglia - Folding Cities #11
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
Italian Contemporary Photography by Luca Battaglia - Folding Cities #15
Located in Paris, IDF
Photographic Fine Art Paper 325 g, ed. 2/7. 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
Italian Contemporary Photography by Luca Battaglia - Honfleur
Located in Paris, IDF
Photographic Fine Art Paper 325 g, ed. 2/7. 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
Mick Jagger and his Aston Martin DB6, London 1966 by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, US
Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones with his beloved Aston Martin DB6, taken outside his London apartment in 1966 by Gered Mankowitz.
"I shot a series of photographs of each member of...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Marianne Faithfull by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, US
English singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull, photographed at The Salisbury pub in London, 1964.
Available in the following sizes. All prints signed and numbered by Ger...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Robert & Patti, New York 1969 “Vertical II”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
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 holds a cassette player, 1974 by Terry O’Neill
Located in Austin, US
Never before printed, a rare image from the Terry O’Neill archive, available now for the first time.
An outtake from the iconic Freddie Burretti suit photoshoot in Los Angeles, 1974...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Marc Bolan T-Rex, The Guru
Located in Austin, US
16" x 20", signed limited edition prints of Marc Bolan of T-Rex by Masayoshi Sukita, limited edition number 3/30, taken at Logan International Airport, Bost...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Jimi Hendrix by Baron Wolman signed limited edition 16x20" print
By Baron Wolman
Located in Austin, US
Jimi Hendrix by iconic photographer, Baron Wolman. Taken at the Travelodge Motel, San Francisco, February 1968
One copy available
Signed limited edition #30/175
20x16” hand printed ...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Morrissey Kill Uncle Tour 1991
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Morrissey by Kevin Cummins, taken standing in front of a sign reading ‘Penis Mightier Than The Sword’ during the Japanese leg of his ‘K...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Courtney Love
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Courtney Love by Kevin Cummins, taken in Zurich Switzerland, 1996. Edition 50
This print by Kevin Cummins...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
John Lee Hooker
By Guido Harari
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of John Lee Hooker by Guido Harari, taken in Redwood City, California, 1991.
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...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Courtney Love 1996
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Courtney Love by celebrated British photographer, Kevin Cummins, taken in Zurich Switzerland, 1996....
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Ninos de la Calle 1
Located in New York, NY
Steve Schlackman is a lawyer by profession and a photographer by choice. Fascinated by the magical world of photography since his youth, he honed this...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment, Digital P...
Autographed Black & White Photograph Portrait of Juan Perón, For Elizabeth Lewis
Located in Soquel, CA
Rare original autographed black and white photograph of Argentinian president Juan Perón, dedicated to Elizabeth Lewis (Bess Huggins Lewis), by an unkn...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
The Landscape around the Marcel Mine, Radlin - Industrial - Rare Vintage Print
Located in London, GB
THE LANDSCAPE AROUND THE MARCEL MINE, RADLIN, 1978
Vintage Gelatin Silver Print
47.5 x 32.5 cm
Series: Silesia
Signed, titled and dated on verso; Artist's stamp
Using a basic 35mm Exa 500 camera, Cała managed to produce images of lyrical beauty, emphasised by a dark graphic printing style that gave the landscape an apocalyptic, otherworldly look.
More print information: A little tape marks in the back corners of the print. Nr 61 noted in the middle on the back of the print. The front of the photograph in a very good condition. Hand printed by the photographer on gloss paper. A rare vintage gelatin silver print from the Silesia series.
Michal Cala was born in Toruń, Poland in 1948 and studied aircraft construction in Warsaw at the University of Technology in the early 1970's. From 1974 to 1983 he worked as an engineer in various companies in Silesia, and began photographing in the area. In 1977, he moved to Tychy in Upper Silesia, where he co-founded the photographers' association KRON and become a member of the ZPAF - the Union of Polish Art Photographers.
Publications on his work include The Anthology of Polish Photography 1839 - 1989, The Masters of Polish Landscape...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Pacific Beach Horizon, Sunset Seashore in Black and White, Sugimoto Style Giclée
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive limited edition black and white giclée print, on 100% cotton Hahnemühle Photo Rag Fine Art matte paper.
This series of black and white photographs captures the ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, C Print, Giclée
Ninos de la Calle 4
Located in New York, NY
Steve Schlackman is a lawyer by profession and a photographer by choice. Fascinated by the magical world of photography since his youth, he honed this skill over time, meticulously p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigment...
David Bowie at The Dorchester Hotel 1972
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie by Alec Byrne, taken at the Dorchester Hotel, July 1972
Alec Byrne signed limited edition prints are available ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Archival Pigment
Kate Moss at 16
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career.
Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie 1977 Heroes session – Speak No Evil
Located in Austin, US
David Bowie, "Speak No Evil", 1977 by Masayoshi Sukita, taken during the photo shoot for the Heroes album cover - Signed limited edition 20" x 24" print ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Debbie Harry Blondie 1977
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Debbie Harry of Blondie by Michael Brennan, taken at the studio on East 45th in Manhattan, New York, USA, Febru...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Bob Marley 1972 portrait
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, silver print of Bob Marley, taken in the recording studio during the "I Can See Clearly Now" sessions with Johnny Nash, 1972
Alec Byrne...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Ballet - underwater black and white nude photograph print on paper 42" x 56"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a young female dancer diving in pool. The naked dances is covering herself with tutu skirt.
Original gallery quality archival pigment pri...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Kelp Nymph - underwater ocean black & white photograph print on paper 26" x 36"
By Alex Sher
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, California.
Original gallery qu...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Johnny Cash 1968 portrait
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Johnny Cash, taken by Barrie Wentzell in London in 1968.
This Johnny Cash print is available in the following sizes.
16" x 20" - Edi...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Muhammad Ali
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Muhammad Ali by Michael Brennan, taken in 1977.
A copy of this Iconic photograph is held in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Rolling Stones "Mick and Chick" Beggars Banquet
Located in Austin, US
“Mick and Chick” by Michael Joesph from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, L...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Muhammad Ali Shadow Boxing
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of American professional boxer and activist Muhammad during a training session at his training camp on 58 Sculps Hill Road, Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, USA,...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
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.