1940s Photography

Innovative, provocative, inimitable - these are just a few of the words to describe America's boldest photographer. Arthur Fellig, better known as Weegee (1899-1968) was a ground-breaking, successful (and notorious) photojournalist. His images shot on the streets of New York City are iconic and influential. In the 1930s he became the first New York City press photographer to obtain permission to install a police radio in his car. This allowed him to follow the city's first responders and to document their duties; responding to fire, crime, debauchery and of course, murder. By the early 1940s Weegee was experiencing fatigue with crime reportage. Ironically, this was also the point when he finally began experiencing professional validation and acclaim, to the point of being a minor celebrity. Notably in 1941 he was included in The MoMA's seminal "50 Photographs by 50 Photographers" (curated by Edward Steichen). The museum would also acquire five Weegee photographs...

While many first associate Weegee (aka Arthur Fellig) with New York City crime scenes, perhaps a broader and more consistent theme is that of spectacle and/or urban entertainment. The origins of his nick-name and reputation date back to the 1930s when he became the first New York City press photographer to obtain permission to install a police radio in his car. Following the city's first responders and documenting their duties, Weegee had unprecedented access to New York’s fires, crimes, debaucheries and of course, murders. During the first decade of his career these unflinching urban tragedy or crime images paid Weegee's bills, but as he became more financially independent he was more inspired to pursue photographs on his own agenda. While his oeuvre is vast, Weegee was especially drawn to entertainment: nightlife, circuses, the theatre, showgirls, city thrills, the cinema etc. Some of Weegee's most dynamic and tender (and under-appreciated!) images are related to simply having fun (in a crowd). He was not confined to one neighbourhood or demographic. He captured action, faces and events from Coney Island to the Bowery and Greenwich Village, to Times Square and Harlem. In “A Trip To Mars,” Weegee depicts a multi-generational group crowding around a large telescope...

The Dukes of Windsor Visiting New York is a vintage photograph realized in 25/09/1956. Good conditions. The artwork is depicted in a well-balanced composition.

An original silver gelatin black and white photograph by Associated Press Photo. The USS Roosevelt aircraft carriers on the Hudson River, New York, during Navy Day in 1945. Features...

This vintage silver gelatin print is signed in pencil on the front of the mount, with image number "11" in the lower left corner. Portfolio Two stamp with print #11 and set #A in red...

The first Chelsea Arts Ball after the war, documented for Life Magazine by photojournalist George Rodger, 1946. George Rodger Post-War Life 1946 (printed later) Edition of 25 Estate...

Dinner Jazz American Jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong enjoys a plate of spaghetti in Rome. Paper size 48 x 48" inches / 121 x 121 cm Estate ...

Spencer Tracy & Deborah Kerr Edward, My Son Black & White Photograph on Photographic Paper Year: 1949 Size: 6.5 x 8 inches (16.51 x 20.32 cm) Stamped verso Publisher: Metro-Goldwyn-...

Muriel Finley, one of the ‘Goldwyn Girls’ in Hollywood who starred with Danny Kaye in ‘The Kid from Brooklyn’. Original Publication: Picture Post – 4232 – I...

Hand printed by the artist. SIgned in pencil. Print date 1988 Very sought after Callahan.

This artwork masterfully captures the interplay between human form and sculptural abstraction. A pair of real feet is delicately intertwined with sculpted counterparts, forging a str...

This striking black-and-white photograph captures Carmen in NY enveloped in a flowing, white gown, creating a graceful, sculptural form. Her head is elegantly tilted to the side, fra...

"Martin And Sinatra" by J Wilds American singers and actors Dean Martin (1917 - 1995) (centre) and Frank Sinatra (right) arriving at London airport, their friend and famed Beverly H...

Marbles Championship 1948 - Slim Aarons Estate Stamped A group of boys competing in a marble championship in Central Park, New York City, 1948 20 x 24" inches / 51 x 61 cm paper si...

Vintage Photo. The American Actor Alan Ladd. Fair conditions, with some Damage.

Matiz managed to create intimate portraits, in which Frida seemed happy to surrender to her lens. The result was dynamic portraits of Khalo, a wonderful example of both the photograp...

Dinner Jazz 1949 - Slim Aarons Estate Stamped 1949: American Jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong (1898 – 1971) enjoys a plate of spaghetti in Rome. (Photo by Slim Aarons) 20 ...

Original, vintage silver gelatin print by Imogen Cunningham. Printed by the artist circa 1949 with Certificate of Authenticity from the trust on the back of the mount. Artist Biograp...

Vintage Silver Gelatin print. (possibly from Vogue Magazine). This appears to be Wolfgang Roth and cast of possibly The Littlest Circus. Performers have horse heads. The photo is st...

This vintage silver gelatin print is signed in pencil on the front of the mount, with image number "6" in the lower left corner. Portfolio Two stamp with print #6 and set #A in red c...

Irving Penn Title: Untitled (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn) Medium: Glossy, fibre based paper Date: New York, circa 1949 Dimensions: 11 x 14 inches Stamped ...

Matiz managed to create intimate portraits, in which Frida seemed happy to surrender to her lens. The result was dynamic portraits of Khalo, a wonderful example of both the photograp...

This late 1940s urban portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a group of young boys sailing model boats at Harlem Meer, Central Park, New York Cit...

Handball In Central Park 1948 - Slim Aarons Estate Stamped A group of young men playing handball at a court in the 95th Street playground, Central Park, New York City, 1948 20 x 20...

'Dinner Jazz' 1949: American Jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong (1898 - 1971) enjoys a plate of spaghetti in Rome. Paper Size: 40" x 40'' (inches)...

COLD WINTER SPECIAL...Don Whitman of Western Photography Guild original vintage 1949 set of 12 photographs - the complete Series #13, stamped and numbered on verso. There are 12 different photographs of 12 spectacular models including iconic shots of 17 year old Bob Grenfell (2nd image here) and 21 year old Ray Royal (cover photo). Photographs are in excellent condition. The original Western Photography Guild order sheet is included - see accompanying images. The order sheet lists the names of the models, their age, height and weight, occupation, ex-military service, and sports. The Guild address appears as Denver 1, Colorado which places the order before postal zip codes were introduced in 1963. However, in researching the models and their ages, Pat Burnham...

Walt Disney's Pinocchio, USA 1940, Animation, Lobby Card, The lobby cards would have been displayed inside the cinemas at the time of the film's release. Pinocchio is a 1940 Americ...

Matiz managed to create intimate portraits, in which Frida seemed happy to surrender to her lens. The result was dynamic portraits of Khalo, a wonderful example of both the photograp...

Matiz managed to create intimate portraits, in which Frida seemed happy to surrender to her lens. The result was dynamic portraits of Khalo, a wonderful example of both the photograp...

Vintage b/w photograph realized by Robert Capa in 1948. Copyright: Magnum Photos and Agenzia Contrasto. Excellent condition.

Arthur Leipzig King of the Hill, 1943 Signed in pencil lower right margin Gelatin silver print 10 x 13 inches Arthur Leipzig (1918-2014) was born in Brooklyn, New York. His journey...

Young Velvets 1949 (Photo Norman Parkinson) Fashion models wear a variety of hats on the roof of the Conde Nast Building against a view of the New York skyline for Vogue, 1949, Manh...

Matiz managed to create intimate portraits, in which Frida seemed happy to surrender to her lens. The result was dynamic portraits of Khalo, a wonderful example of both the photograp...

Rémy Duval, 'Parisian Balcony', photogravure, 1946. A fine, richly-inked impression in warm black ink, on cream wove B.F.K. Rives paper; the sheet with deck...

Matiz managed to create intimate portraits, in which Frida seemed happy to surrender to her lens. The result was dynamic portraits of Khalo, a wonderful example of both the photograp...

Walt Disney's Pinocchio, USA 1940, Animation, Lobby Card, The lobby cards would have been displayed inside the cinemas at the time of the film's release. Pinocchio is a 1940 Americ...

The King Of Jazz 1949 by Slim Aarons Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition 1949: Photographers taking pictures of American jazz trumpeter and singer, Louis Armstrong (1901 – 1971) as...

Rémy Duval, 'Pont Marie, Paris', photogravure, 1946. A fine, richly-inked impression in warm black ink, on cream wove B.F.K. Rives paper; the sheet with dec...

"Cafe De Flore, Paris In 1948" by Keystone-France Cafe De Flore, Paris, France, 1948. Unframed Paper Size: 16" x 16'' (inches) Printed 2022 Silver Gel...

"Backless Fashion" by Bill Brandt 5th November 1949: Paris's latest fashion items place the accent on necklines, using roses, frills, and feathers to emphasize necks and bosoms. Thi...

"Heavyweight" by Felix Man Eighteen-year-old animal trainer Zabuna lying under one of her performing elephants. This stunt forms part of her act for the Chessington Circus, currentl...

Merton of the Movies, USA 1948, Director: Robert Alton, Cast: Gloria Grahame, Red Skelton. The lobby cards would have been displayed inside the cinemas ...

Matiz managed to create intimate portraits, in which Frida seemed happy to surrender to her lens. The result was dynamic portraits of Khalo, a wonderful example of both the photograp...

Gorbals Boys (1948) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print (Photo by Bert Hardy/Getty Images Archive London) Possibly Bert Hardy's most famous image. Two boys in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. The Gorbals tenements were built quickly and cheaply in the 1840s, providing housing for Glasgow's burgeoning population of industrial workers. Conditions were appalling; overcrowding was standard and sewage and water facilities inadequate. The tenements housed about 40,000 people with up to eight family members sharing a single room, 30 residents sharing a toilet and 40 sharing a tap. By the time this photograph was taken 850 tenements had been demolished since 1920. Redevelopment of the area began in the late 1950s and the tenements were replaced with a modern tower block complex in the sixties. Original Publication: Picture Post - 4499 - The Forgotten Gorbals - pub. 1948 Additional Information: Unframed Paper Size: 20 x 16'' inches / 51 x 41 cm Printed 2024 Silver Gelatin Fibre Print Limited edition issued and stamped on front by the Getty Archive London Edition size 300 only NOTE OTHER SIZES OF THIS IMAGE AVAILABLE 10 x 8'' 10 x 12'' 12 x 16'' 16 x 20'' 20 x 24'' FRAMING AVAILABLE ON REQUEST Bert Hardy Albert William Thomas Hardy (19 May 1913 – 3 July 1995) was an English documentary and press photographer known for his work published in the Picture Post magazine between 1941 and 1957. Life and work Born in Blackfriars, Bert Hardy rose from humble working class origins in Southwark, London. The eldest of seven children, he left school at age 14 to work for a chemist who also processed photos. His first big sale came in 1936 when he photographed King George V and Queen Mary in a passing carriage during the Silver Jubilee celebrations, and sold 200 small prints of his best view of the King. His first assignment, at age 23, was to photograph Hungarian actor Sakall at the Mayfair Hotel. Hardy freelanced for The Bicycle magazine, and bought his first small-format 35 mm Leica. He signed on with the General Photographic Agency as a Leica photographer, later founding his own freelance firm, Criterion. General Photographic Agency General Photographic Agency a Fleet Street, London agency, sold photos at least between 1880-1950. Picture Post and World War II In 1941, Hardy was recruited by the then editor Tom Hopkinson of the leading picture publication of the 1930s to the 1950s, Picture Post. Founded in 1938 and funded by publisher Edward Hulton, the magazine's first editor was Hungarian émigré Stefan Lorant (1901–97) assisted by Hopkinson, who took over as editor from 1940. The picture-centric, left-leaning and reasonably-priced publication was highly successful and circulation soon rose to over a million. Hardy's photographer colleagues included Felix H. Man (aka Hans Baumann...

Black and white photographs that reveal the various facets and aesthetic searches of the legendary Colombian photographer, recognized as the creator of memorable realistic, abstract ...

"Taylor In London" by Keystone Features November 1948: The actress Elizabeth Taylor on Westminster Bridge in London. Unframed Paper Size: 16"x 12'' (inches) Printed 2022 Silver Ge...

Norma Jeane Mortenson or better known as Marilyn Monroe – iconic, beautiful and maybe the most known Hollywood Stars of the 20th century. Born and raised in Los Angeles, USA, she spent most of her childhood in foster homes and orphanage. She got married with only 16 years old and while working for a factory during WW II, she met a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit and started a succesful modeling career. The rest of her life is history: In the 50s she was one of the most marketable actresses, had held leading roles in various movies and was known for her immense sex appeal. As a highly intelligent woman, she knew how to build a career, while, in her private life she struggled with addiction and mood disorder. At the age of 36 she died from an overdose of barbiturates at her Los Angeles home. With her breathy voice and hourglass figure, she is until today one of Hollywood's most famous actresses. Description: Marilyn's Wedding/The bridal Couple, June 19...

Dinner Jazz (1949) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Limited Estate Stamped (Photo by Slim Aarons/Getty Images) Premium Rates Apply. 1949: American Jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Arm...

Handball In Central Park (1948) Limited Estate Stamped - Grande XL (Photo By Slim Aarons) A group of young men playing handball at a court in the 95th Street playground, Central ...

Ascari At Silverstone (1949) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print (Photo by Express/Express/Getty Images) 25th August 1949: Italian motor racing driver Alberto Ascari (left) approaching St...

Black and white photographs that reveal the various facets and aesthetic searches of the legendary Colombian photographer, recognized as the creator of memorable realistic, abstract ...

Paul Lukas "Watch On The Rhine" - 1943 Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull A 1943 black and white portrait photograph of actor Paul Lukas (Hungarian, 1894-1971) by Clarence Sincla...

Backstage At La Scala 1948 by Slim Aarons Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition A chorus girl reads a movie magazine in a dressing room at La Scala opera house, Milan, November 1948...

"Race Order" by Bert Hardy Maserati racing cars in the pit during a road race at at St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, May 1947. Original publication: Pict...

Marbles Championship A group of boys competing in a marble championship in Central Park, New York City, 1948 16×20 inches - paper size Estate Stamped Collection Edition to 150 ...

Original black-and-white lobby card for the film "Humoresque" (1946) featuring John Garfield and Oscar Levant. This vintage cinema memorabilia piece captures a somber moment between ...

"Fill Her Up" by Bert Hardy 24th May 1947: Pit staff filling up Louis Chiron's (1899 - 1979) Maserati. Original Publication: Picture Post - 4364 - Road Racing In Jersey - pub. 1947 ...

Dangerous Perch (1940) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Archive London) Evacuee Barrie Peacop enjoys an ice cream as he sits on a mine ...

Dangerous Perch (1940) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Archive London) Evacuee Barrie Peacop enjoys an ice cream as he sits on a mine ...

Artist: Richard Ham, American (1920 - ) Title: Picasso in Paris Studio - Picasso Sitting Year: 1945, Printed in 2009 Medium: Gelatin Silver Print, signed and numbered in ink Edition...