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
Waylon Jennings at The Armadillo, Austin 1974
Located in Austin, TX
Waylon Jennings, taken at the Armadillo WHQ, Austin TX in 1974 by photographer Scott Newton.
20x28" signed limited edition print.
Scott Newton recalls, "In 1974 Waylon was ornery...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of the Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Cramps 1979 by Simon Fowler
By Simon Fowler
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of The Cramps featuring Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, taken by Simon Fowler in the UK in 1979.
Simon recalls - "Shot this at LFI’s Studio. I say Studio, ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Cramps by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of Poison Ivy and Lux Interior from influential 1970s and 1980s punk band The Cramps taken by Jill Furmanovsky in 1981...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
John Lennon 1967 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
John Lennon relaxing at Brian Epstein's house in London whilst at the launch party for The Beatles album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' in May 1...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
David Bowie "Loves to be Loved" by Sukita
Located in Austin, TX
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
George Harrison by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, TX
George Harrison of The Beatles taken by Robert Whitaker in Chiswick Park, London, 1965.
All limited edition prints in this collection are hand numbere...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Newport
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The NYU picture is a part of photographs done in 1965 for a German book publisher, lately a book with his photographs about NYC was published.
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
CHILDREN AND CHRISTMAS - Black and white photograph on baryta paper
Located in Napoli, IT
Rare old black and white photograph on sepia paper, depicts three children watching Santa Claus from the window.
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
DER DEUSCHER VOLKE - Photograph on baryta paper, Nino La Rocca , Italy 1987
Located in Napoli, IT
Analog photograph on baryta paper in black and white titled "Der Deuscher Volke" , the photo depicts the German Parliament and the Berlin Wall before the fall . The photograph is by ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Richard Blair Photograph "Daily News - Chinatown" San Francisco c.1974
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Blair Photograph "Daily News - Chinatown" San Francisco c.1974
Fine black and white photograph by noted American photographer Richard Blair. Richard Blair has been in a phot...
Category
Mid-20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967 Contact Sheet by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, TX
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, London 1967 by Gered Mankowitz
Signed limited edition 16x20" print, signed and numbered by Gered Mankowitz featuring Gered's embossed stamp.
Also avai...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Pamela Des Barres 1968 Groupies, signed limited edition silver gelatin print
By Baron Wolman
Located in Austin, TX
Miss Pamela by Baron Wolman, taken in Los Angeles in 1968 as part of Baron's Groupies series, taken for Rolling Stone magazine.
Limited edition number 2/1...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Beatles live in Tokyo
Located in Austin, TX
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
Patti Smith portrait, New York 1969
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of musician, poet and writer, Patti Smith, 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
The Clash
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Bassist Paul Simonon and lead singer Joe Strummer of British punk rock band The Clash backstage at the Agora Theatre in Cl...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Black and White Portrait of an Elderly Woman - Imogen Cunningham
Located in Soquel, CA
Portrait of a seated elderly woman by Imogen Cunningham (American, 1883). Presented in a new white mat. Tag from the studio of Imogen Cunningham affixed ...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Stevie Ray Vaughan by Ebet Roberts
By Ebet Roberts
Located in Austin, TX
Stevie Ray Vaughan backstage at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis,TN on August 26, 1986, taken by photographer, Ebet Roberts.
Signed limited edition, ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Amy Winehouse
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Amy Winehouse taken in London by Jake Chessum in 2004.
Jake recalls the session: “I travelled from NYC to London in Febr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie portrait by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of David Bowie, wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette, by Kevin Cummins, taken in November 1995
Edition number 5/50, signed and numbered by Kevin Cummins.
This David Bowie print...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of English band Blur, posing in front of the graffiti slogan 'Modern Life is Rubbish', the title of their 1993 album. Blur were the kings of Britpop and are from L-R: Damon...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie "The Same Old Kyoto" by Sukita
Located in Austin, TX
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
David Bowie 1995 16x20" contact sheet. First print of the edition
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" print, and the first print of the edition #1/20. David Bowie contact sheet from Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls the sessi...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
Willie Nelson playing chess
Located in Austin, TX
Willie Nelson, taken at Willie's WHQ, Luck TX 2001 by Austin based photographer Scott Newton
Signed limited edition print, printed on heavyweight cotton ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of the Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Rolling Stones backstage by Bill Wyman
Located in Austin, TX
The Rolling Stones, featuring Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts, taken backstage before a show at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. June 12t...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
The Rolling Stones "Out Of Our Heads" by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, TX
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
The Ramones Jeans and Keds
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of The Ramones, taken in Los Angeles by celebrated photographer and filmmaker, Norman Seeff in 1977.
The Ramones we...
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, TX
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
Morrissey Kill Uncle Tour 1991
Located in Austin, TX
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
George Harrison, from a 1966 concert in Cleveland Ohio
Located in Paonia, CO
This image of George Harrison was taken at a 1966 Cleveland Ohio live Beatles concert. Photographer Michael Chikeris had just gotten out of the Mari...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
John Lennon the Beatles 1966 Cleveland Concert
Located in Paonia, CO
This image of John Lennon was taken at a 1966 Cleveland Ohio live Beatles concert. Photographer Michael Chikeris had just gotten out of the Marines and got entry thru the stage door...
Category
1960s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Gary Clark Jr backstage Troubadour portrait
By Ben Sklar
Located in Austin, TX
Gary Clark Jr taken on backstage at The Troubadour, LA, by Ben Sklar
Available in the following sizes:
16" x 20" - Edition 20 - signed and numbered by Ben Sklar
20" x 24" - Edition ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Ian Curtis by Kevin Cummins. Edition number 38/75
This iconic shot of the Joy Division singer was taken at T...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Marc Bolan T-Rex, The Guru
Located in Austin, TX
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
David Bowie 1977 Heroes session – Speak No Evil
Located in Austin, TX
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
David Bowie 1977 Heroes session – See No Evil
Located in Austin, TX
David Bowie, "See No Evil", 1977 by Masayoshi Sukita during the photoshoot that produced the album cover shot tor Bowie's Heroes album cover - Signed limit...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Morrissey by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Morrissey, former frontman of rock band The Smiths, wearing a plaster on his forehead, September 5, 1991.
This Morrissey print by Kevi...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Morrissey by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Morrissey performing at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York, during his 'Kill Uncle' tour, July 10, 1991.
This Morrissey print by Kevi...
Category
1990s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Kate Moss at sixteen
By Jake Chessum
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
Morrissey
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Morrissey by Kevin Cummins, taken at Rochdale Canal, Manchester England, 5th September 1989. Limited edition number 36/50
This ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Willie Nelson at the 4th July Picnic 1979
Located in Austin, TX
Willie Nelson, taken at the 4th July Picnic in 1979 in Austin Texas by photographer Scott Newton
Signed limited edition print, printed on heavyweight cotton ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of the Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum.
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Country music star Dolly Parton hugs rock star Mick Jagger backstage after her Bottom Line concert. NYC 5/14/77 ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Country music star Dolly Parton hugging rock star Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, backstage after her Bottom ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Aretha Franklin 1968 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Aretha Franklin by Alec Byrne, taken in London, 1968
16x20" signed limited edition #2/75
Alec Byrne signed...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Johnny Cash 1968 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
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
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
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
President Jimmy Carter, Detroit, 1976
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Jimmy Carter photograph Detroit, 1976:
This timeless, silhouette-like photograph of President Jimmy Carter was captured by the legendary Detroit photo-journalist & counter cultural ...
Category
1970s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Inkjet
"Yosemite Falls, " Black and White Photograph signed by Thomas Ferderbar
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Yosemite Falls" is a black and white photograph signed by Thomas Ferderbar. This view of the waterfall is from the side, not a center view. One can see how far the water falls down and where it creates mist as well. An evergreen tree balances the piece. Archival inkjet print on archival Epson Premium Luster paper. Camera that was used was an 8x10 Ansco View with a Goerz lens. And was scanned in the early 2000's with a drum scanner prior to achivally digitally printed. Signed by artist in lower left corner.
Paper: 50 x 40 in
Frame: 54 x 44 in
Interview with the Artist:
I wanted to become a photographer at the age of 12, when my sister Grace gave me a Kodak Box...
Category
1950s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Luster, Archival Ink, Digital
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
In the Hall of the Mountain King - underwater b&w nude photograph - paper 35x50"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white nude photograph of a female dancer performing in a swimming pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print ...
Category
2010s 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
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
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
Rocky Desert Mountain, Black and White Landscape Photograph of Atlas, Morocco
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
Richard Blair "Tom Dunphy aka General Waste-More-Land" Berkeley 1969 / 2001
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Blair Photograph "Tom Dunphy aka General Waste-More-Land" Berkeley, c.1969
Thomas Michael Dunphy (born 1944 in East Los Angeles, California) is best known for portraying General Waste-more-land, a character based on General William Westmoreland, at anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s. Dunphy is also a poet and is involved in other political activities including working with the Hopi Indians...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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.