Surrealist Black and White Photography
SURREALIST STYLE
In the wake of World War I’s ravaging of Europe, artists delved into the unconscious mind to confront and grapple with this reality. Poet and critic André Breton, a leader of the Surrealist movement who authored the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, called this approach “a violent reaction against the impoverishment and sterility of thought processes that resulted from centuries of rationalism.” Surrealist art emerged in the 1920s with dreamlike and uncanny imagery guided by a variety of techniques such as automatic drawing, which can be likened to a stream of consciousness, to channel psychological experiences.
Although Surrealism was a groundbreaking approach for European art, its practitioners were inspired by Indigenous art and ancient mysticism for reenvisioning how sculptures, paintings, prints, performance art and more could respond to the unsettled world around them.
Surrealist artists were also informed by the Dada movement, which originated in 1916 Zurich and embraced absurdity over the logic that had propelled modernity into violence. Some of the Surrealists had witnessed this firsthand, such as Max Ernst, who served in the trenches during World War I, and Salvador Dalí, whose otherworldly paintings and other work responded to the dawning civil war in Spain.
Other key artists associated with the revolutionary art and literary movement included Man Ray, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim, all of whom had a distinct perspective on reimagining reality and freeing the unconscious mind from the conventions and restrictions of rational thought. Pablo Picasso showed some of his works in “La Peinture Surréaliste” — the first collective exhibition of Surrealist painting — which opened at Paris’s Galerie Pierre in November of 1925. (Although Magritte is best known as one of the visual Surrealist movement’s most talented practitioners, his famous 1943 painting, The Fifth Season, can be interpreted as a formal break from Surrealism.)
The outbreak of World War II led many in the movement to flee Europe for the Americas, further spreading Surrealism abroad. Generations of modern and contemporary artists were subsequently influenced by the richly symbolic and unearthly imagery of Surrealism, from Joseph Cornell to Arshile Gorky.
Find a collection of original Surrealist paintings, sculptures, prints and multiples and more art on 1stDibs.
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Style: Surrealist
"Adam" Black & White Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Adam" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Available sizes...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Rosemary Ellis Power Station Gelatin Silver Photograph for book Pipes and Wires
Located in London, GB
One from a series of photographs we have listed, to see the others scroll down to 'More from this seller' and click on 'View all from seller' and then search.
Rosemary Ellis
Power S...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
"One Heart" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" in Ed. of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"One Heart" Black & White Photography 39" x 39" in Ed. of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Rosemary Ellis Dam III Gelatin Silver Photograph Proof Print for Bodley Head
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of photographs from Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more from this series scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Pipes Gelatin Silver Photograph Proof Print for published book
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of photographs from Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more from this series scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Pool Gelatin Silver Photograph Print for book: Pipes and Wires
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of photographs from Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more from this series scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Pool II Gelatin Silver Photograph Print proof for book
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of photographs from Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more from this series scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Windows IV Gelatin Silver Photograph Print Gothic Ruin
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of photographs from Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more from this series scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Dam VI Surreal Photograph Silver Gelatin Print for Bodley Head
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of photographs from Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more from this series scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Power Station Gelatin Silver Photograph for book Pipes and Wires
Located in London, GB
One from a series of photographs we have listed, to see the others scroll down to 'More from this seller' and click on 'View all from seller' and then search.
Rosemary Ellis
Power S...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Wires II Gelatin Silver Photograph for book: Pipes and Wires
Located in London, GB
One from a series of photographs we have listed, to see the others scroll down to 'More from this seller' and click on 'View all from seller' and then search.
Rosemary Ellis
Wires I...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Pipes VII Gelatin Silver Print for book: Pipes and Wires
Located in London, GB
From a series of similar photographs, to see the others scroll down to 'see all from seller'.
Rosemary Ellis (1910-1938)
Pipes VII
Original proof photograph for 'Pipes and Wires' in...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Windows II Gelatin Silver Print for book: Windows
Located in London, GB
From a series of photographs, to see the others scroll down to 'sell all from this seller'.
Rosemary Ellis (1910-1988)
Windows II
Original proof photograph for Windows in the Outloo...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Pipes VI Gelatin Silver Print surreal published photograph
Located in London, GB
Rosemary Ellis
Pipes VI
Original photography for Pipes and Wires in the Outlooks and Insights series published by Bodley Head, composed by Rosemary & Charlotte Ellis.
Gelatin Silver ...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Windows III Gelatin Silver Print for book: Windows
Located in London, GB
From a series of similar photographs by Rosemary Ellis. To see the others, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller" and search for Elli...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Windows IX Silver Gelatin Photograph Print Gothic Architecture
Located in London, GB
Rosemary Ellis (1910-1988)
Windows IX
Original proof photograph for Windows in the Outlooks and Insights series published by Bodley Head, by Rosemary & Charlotte Ellis.
Silver Gelati...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Windows XVIII Silver Gelatin Photograph Print Surreal published
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of photographs from Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more from this series scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Rosemary Ellis Pipes V Gelatin Silver Photograph Print 1975 Surreal Pipes
Located in London, GB
Rosemary Ellis (1910-1988)
Pipes V
Original photography for Pipes and Wires in the Outlooks and Insights series published by Bodley Head, composed by Rosemary & Charlotte Ellis.
Gela...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
"Lily 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Lily 1" Photography 24" x 24" inch Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Available s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Black Moon" Black & White Photography 24" x 24" in Ed. 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Black Moon" Black & White Photography 24" x 24" in Ed. 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Heaven's Creation 1" Photography 24" x 35.5" in Ed. 1/7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Heaven's Creation 1" Photography 24" x 35.5" in Ed. 1/7 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Oth...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Untitled (Paper Globe)
By Chema Madoz
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 25
Gelatin silver print
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil on print verso.
Paper size: 16 x 12 in., Image size: 8 1/2 x 7 1/4 in.
Printed 2011
Chema Madoz is one of the...
Category
Early 2000s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Cactus, Madrid
By Chema Madoz
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15
Signed, titled and dated.
Toned gelatin silver print
Chema Madoz is one of the most important contemporary Spanish photographers, who is greatly known for his monochro...
Category
1990s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Untitled, from the New Mexico Portfolio
By Van Deren Coke
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 125
Signed and dated in ink on print margin.
Photograph is from The New Mexico Portfolio published in 1976 by the Center of the E...
Category
Late 20th Century Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph Surrealist Doll Art Photo, Jazz Photographer
Located in Surfside, FL
These were from a show of her work. Influenced by Surrealism and Dada Photographs
these are images of old children's dolls in various states of decay. These bear the influence of Hans Bellmer, Dora Maar and Man Ray.
Jo Ann Krivin born in Reasnor, Iowa in 1933, daughter to Earl Guthrie and Lillie Cramer. She graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, with a bachelor of music degree in voice. She became a copywriter for the CBS Television affiliate in Des Moines, and then a public relations writer for Columbia Records in New York. She later owned and directed The Cramer Gallery in Glen Rock, N.J. Krivin photographed many jazz musicians during the 1980s and 1990s, and published two books of her jazz photos, "25 Years of the Jazz Room at William Paterson University" and "Jazz Studies." Her jazz and doll portraits have been exhibited in group and solo shows, museums, university galleries, and jazz festivals. She was married for over 50 years to painter, musician, and educator Martin Krivin.
One of the few women in the field of jazz photography, JoAnn Krivin documented the professional jazz scene from the late 1970's until the late 1990's photographing close to 700 musicians. Her works have been exhibited frequently in solo shows at festivals, museums and galleries across the country. She has served as a still photographer for New Jersey Public Television and has contributed to a variety of national jazz publications. Her book, Twenty Five Years of the Jazz Room at William Paterson University, was published in 2003. Woman artist with a feminist tinge to these photographs. Her work was exhibited at the Ben Shahn Galleries. The exhibit featured photographs of some of the jazz world’s most well-known musicians, including Sonny Rollins, Joe Williams, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Milt Hinton...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph Surrealist Doll Art Photo, Jazz Photographer
Located in Surfside, FL
These were from a show of her work. Influenced by Surrealism and Dada Photographs
these are images of old children's dolls in various states of decay....
Category
20th Century Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Bog Dog by Keith Carter, 2014, Archival Pigment Print
Located in Denton, TX
Bog Dog by Keith Carter presents a portrait of a dog looking off into the distance. This photograph is listed as a 20 x 16 inch archival pigment print, with the paper size measuring 22 x 17 inches. This print is available in an edition of 25. It is signed, titled, dated and numbered in pencil on print verso by Keith Carter. Bog Dog is from Carter's series, Ghostland.
Keith Carter is an American photographer who is known for his dreamlike black and white photographs of the figure, animals, and meaningful objects. He began photographing new and unknown realities using East Texas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Hugh Laing Portrait
By Angus McBean
Located in Denton, TX
Gelatin silver print, 8 1/4 x 6 1/4 in.
Signed in pencil on mount margin.
Titled in pencil and artist stamp on mount verso.
Category
1930s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Untitled, Madrid
By Chema Madoz
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 15
Signed, dated and numbered.
Chema Madoz is one of the most important contemporary Spanish photographers, who is greatly known for his monochromatic, surreal still-life...
Category
1990s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Untitled (Moon in Gong)
By Chema Madoz
Located in Denton, TX
Edition 2/7
Signed on print margin.
Printed 2011
Frame included.
Chema Madoz is one of the most important contemporary Spanish photographers, who is greatly known for his monochroma...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Cypress Swamp
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 25
Signed, titled, dated and numbered in pencil on print verso.
Paper size: 17 x 22 in., Image size: 16 x 20 in.
Series: Ghostland
Keith Carter is an American photographe...
Category
1990s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
"Matrix" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Matrix" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Available siz...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Geometry 2" Photography 39" x 39" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Geometry 2" Photography 39" x 39" inch Edition of 3 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Availab...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Gods at the Beach 2" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Gods at the Beach 2" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Memorial to Anais Nin
By Val Telberg
Located in New York, NY
Val Telberg was a Surrealist-influenced photomontagist who famously collaborated with Anais Nin.
Mr. Telberg was born of Finnish-Russian parents in Moscow...
Category
1970s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
"Moon Birth 3" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition 1/7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth 3" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition 1/7 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Availabl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Moon Birth 2" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Moon Birth 2" Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 1/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Availab...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Invisibility Hat" Photography 39" x 39" in Edition 2/3 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Avai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Music is Eternal" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 7 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Music is Eternal" Photography 31" x 31" in Edition of 15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
Not framed. Ships in a tube.
Av...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Ballet" Black & White Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Ballet" Black & White Photography 24" x 24" in Edition 2/15 by Olha Stepanian
Printed on Epson Professional Paper
Signed and numbered by the artist
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Fading Beauty
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
Early 2000s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram
Bud of the Bud
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 Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Archival Pi...
Portrait of Roger Parry
By Maurice Tabard
Located in New York, NY
Stamped, verso
Vintage silver print
9 x 7 inches
18 x 15.5 inches, framed
Roger Parry learned photography from Maurice Tabard by working as his studio assistant in 1928. In 1929 the...
Category
1930s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Untitled [Science]
By Joseph Mills
Located in New York, NY
Varnished photo montage on paper
Category
Early 2000s Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
![Untitled [Science]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/a_9323/1584647427635/Mills_Untitled_Varnished_Photo_1200_2_master.jpg?width=240 "joe mills nude")
Untitled (Philosopher's Desk)
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Signed on the front. Contact gallery for prices and available sizes as they are subject to change - available as a 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 inch gelatin silver prints. All works are open e...
Category
20th Century Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Wagon Wheel
By Greg Lotus
Located in Hudson, NY
Print is available in sizes from small to mural.
Edition of 25.
If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is produced upon purchase. Please allow two weeks for production.
Shipping time depends on method of shipping.
Price is subject to availability. The Robin Rice Gallery reserves the right to adjust this price depending on the current edition of the photograph.
ABOUT:
Inside the gallery, the viewer is surrounded by an arresting display of glamour in the wild. Drawing inspiration from classical paintings and geometric forms, Greg Lotus' work has been compared to Herb Ritts, Man Ray and Richard Avedon, and his exhibition fuses his high fashion background with the rural environment of his youth. Yet Lotus admits to no formal training throughout his career, "I'm completely self-taught, lots of trial and error over the years."
His foray into fashion photography was a twist of fate. In the 90s he was sharing living quarters with young models, and began photographing them to help them build their portfolios—work that eventually brought his work to the attention of agencies. When it comes to his own models, Lotus prefers the "unspoiled" types, holding castings to find those with quirk as well as beauty.
"Over time, most artists develop their own palette and look using color and light in a very personal way. I express my own aesthetic sense which is what makes my work recognizable, regardless of subject or setting." "Swimmer Cap," is an example of Lotus' signature pop of color. Here, a cast of sinewy models convene in a locker room; their candy-colored swim caps give the piece its surreal, dreamlike quality.
In the invitation piece, "Nurses" beauties in black bathing suits pop against a light background while being hosed down by a nurse. "You can almost feel the spray and hear the whoosh under the miniskirt," says Lotus. Besides the visual play on light and dark, he says water is the linking element that turns the piece theatrical and makes it breathe.
Greg Lotus was born in 1967 in rural West Virginia. He shot in Paris and New York City before settling in Miami to pursue his craft. After landing his first major job in Europe, Lotus interviewed with the editor of Italian Vogue, Franca Sozzani...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Surrealist black and white photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Surrealist 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 Rosemary Ellis, Chema Madoz, Brian Ziff, and Alfred Gescheidt. Frequently made by artists working with Silver Gelatin Print, and Paper and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Surrealist black and white photography, so small editions measuring 4.5 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 $110 and tops out at $26,500, while the average work sells for $1,350.