Portrait Photography
Mid-20th Century Modern Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
1970s Modern Portrait Photography
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Late 20th Century Contemporary Portrait Photography
C Print
1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography
C Print
1980s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Parchment Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
1960s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper, Dye, Color
20th Century Modern Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper, Black and White
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
1960s Pop Art Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin
20th Century Contemporary Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Parchment Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
C Print
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin
20th Century Modern Portrait Photography
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid, Archival Paper
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
20th Century Contemporary Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper, Black and White, C Print, Lambda
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid, Photographic Paper
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, C Print, Color, Lambda, Polaroid
Early 2000s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Late 19th Century Realist Portrait Photography
Watercolor, Photographic Paper
1980s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
20th Century Modern Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper
Late 20th Century Pointillist Portrait Photography
C Print
1960s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
1950s American Realist Portrait Photography
Black and White, Lambda
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
1970s Other Art Style Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
C Print
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
C Print, Color, Polaroid, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
1930s Modern Portrait Photography
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
1940s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
1970s Modern Portrait Photography
Lambda
1980s Modern Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
2010s Pop Art Portrait Photography
Metal
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, C Print, Color, Lambda, Polaroid
Late 20th Century Contemporary Portrait Photography
C Print
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Black and White
1980s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
1970s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin
1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigme...
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
1950s Modern Portrait Photography
Archival Pigment
Early 2000s Outsider Art Portrait Photography
Archival Paper, C Print
1950s Modern Portrait Photography
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Portrait Photography for Sale on 1stDibs
Portrait photography can be a powerful part of your wall decor. Find a provocative and compelling portrait that speaks to you and you might find that the photograph will speak to your guests too.
Prior to the development of photography, which eventually replaced portrait paintings as a quicker and more efficient way of capturing a person’s essence, the subject of a portrait had to sit for hours until the painter had finished. In 1839, chemist and Philadelphia-based photographer Robert Cornelius didn’t have to wait very long for his portrait. In a matter of minutes, he captured what many believe to be the first portrait photograph. This shot was also the first self-portrait (or what we now call a “selfie”), and fine photography quickly became an art form.
Landscape photography, nude photography and portrait photography are very popular in today's modern interiors. A portrait can reveal a lot about the person in it. It can also add a narrative touch to your decor. You’ll often find that photographs of loved ones work well as decorative touches. A portrait of a family member or dear friend can help turn a house into a home, warming any space by evoking fond memories.
While family portraits can stir emotion, portraits of celebrities and important historical figures can also add a rich dynamic to your space. Portraits of famous musicians or intriguing actors hung in your dining room or home bar shot by Gered Mankowitz or Annie Leibovitz might inspire deep conversation over meals or drinks. Douglas Kirkland is also famous for his celebrity portraits. His photojournalism made him much sought after by Hollywood studios to document the filming of movies. In Kirkland’s powerful depiction of Hollywood stars, he excellently captures the glamour of their lives.
Other artists like Elliott Erwitt stand out by turning portraiture into a playful art form. Before graduating from high school in Hollywood, Erwitt had already begun to teach himself to take pictures, inspired by the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson. In image after image, Erwitt captured what photographers call “the moment” with rapier wit and penetrating humanity.
Portrait photography can be incredibly expressive, setting the tone and mood for a room. And there are different ways of incorporating portrait photography into your interior decor. If you’re thinking about adding color photography to a bedroom or living room, the colors of the portraits can become part of the room’s palette, while portraits shot in black and white won’t disrupt an existing color scheme.
On 1stDibs, find a vast selection of portrait photography from different eras, including 1950s portraits, 1960s portrait photography and more.
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