Contemporary Portrait Photography

CONTEMPORARY STYLE

Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.

Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.

The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.

Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.

Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.

Style: Contemporary

Period: 1930s

Rita Hayworth in Burbank

By Frank Worth

Located in Austin, TX

Black and white candid image of Rita Hayworth in Burbank, walking along a beautiful street scene. Rita Hayworth was an American actress, dancer, and producer. She achieved fame dur...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Rita Hayworth in Burbank, 1939

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Sports and Youngs in Fascist Italy is a vintage photo, realized in the 1930s . Photo by Studio Gherlone.

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Sports and Youngs in Fascist Italy is a vintage photo, realized in the 1930s . Photo by Studio Gherlone.

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Italian Fascism Era - Meeting Mussolini and Litvinoff - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Italian Fascism Era - Meeting Mussolini and Litvinoff is a vintage photo, realized in the 1930s . Photo by Agence Trampus

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Italian Fascism Era - Meeting Mussolini and Litvinoff - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Italian Fascism Era - Mussolini - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Italian Fascism Era - Mussolini is a vintage photo, realized in the 1930s . Photo by Agence Trampus.

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Italian Fascism Era - Mussolini - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy is a vintage photo, realized in the 1930s . Photo by Studio Gherlone.

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy is a vintage photo, realized in the 1930s . Photo by Agence Trampus.

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Rome, The Palace of Justice - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Rome, the Palace of Justice is a vintage photo realized in the 1930s .

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Rome, The Palace of Justice - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy is a vintage photo, realized in the 1930s . Photo by Studio Gherlone.

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Youth Sports in Fascist Italy - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Greta Garbo "As You Desire Me"

By Clarence Sinclair Bull

Located in Austin, TX

This stunning black and white studio portrait features Greta Garbo posed for her role in "As You Desire Me". Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American film actress during the 1920s and 19...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Greta Garbo "As You Desire Me", 1931

Hot Air Balloon Scene from "The Wizard of Oz"

By Eric Carpenter

Located in Austin, TX

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Widely considered to be one of the greatest films in cinema history, it is the best-known and most commercially successful adaptation of L. Frank Baum...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Hot Air Balloon Scene from "The Wizard of Oz", 1939

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in "Swing Time"

By Ernest Bachrach

Located in Austin, TX

This black and white action shot features Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire dancing for their roles in "Swing Time", 1936. Swing Time is a 1936 American RKO musical comedy film set ma...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in "Swing Time", 1936

Bette Davis Smoking

By Elmer Fryer

Located in Austin, TX

Stunning black and white image of Bette Davis in a silk gown, reclining while smoking a cigarette. Bette Davis was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Bette Davis Smoking, 1934

Greta Garbo "Inspiration"

By Clarence Sinclair Bull

Located in Austin, TX

This stunning black and white studio portrait features Greta Garbo posed for her role in "Inspiration". Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American film actress during the 1920s and 1930s. ...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Greta Garbo "Inspiration", 1931

Clark Gable Posed on Sound Stage

By George Hurrell

Located in Austin, TX

This black and white portrait features Clark Gable pose on a sound stage, circa 1931. Clark Gable was an American film actor and military officer, often referred to as "The King of...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Clark Gable Posed on Sound Stage, 1931

Fred Astaire: The Gay Divorcee

By Ernest Bachrach

Located in Austin, TX

Fred Astaire was an American dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, and television presenter. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential dancers in the history of film and t...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Fred Astaire: The Gay Divorcee, 1934

Clark Gable Posed on Sound Stage II

By George Hurrell

Located in Austin, TX

This black and white portrait features Clark Gable pose on a sound stage, circa 1931. Clark Gable was an American film actor and military officer, often referred to as "The King of...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Clark Gable Posed on Sound Stage II, 1931

Rita Hayworth Sunbathing

By Frank Worth

Located in Austin, TX

Black and white candid image of Rita Hayworth in Burbank, walking along a beautiful street scene. This listing is for a limited edition archival print. What's included: - Limited ...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Rita Hayworth Sunbathing, 1939

Katharine Hepburn in "Holiday"

By Alexander Kahle

Located in Austin, TX

A classic film still of Kathrine Hepburn on the set of the classic 1938 film "Holiday". Katharine Hepburn was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Hepburn's career a...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Katharine Hepburn in "Holiday", 1938

Fred Astaire Planning Dance Moves

By Fred Hendrickson

Located in Austin, TX

Fred Astaire was an American dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, and television presenter. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential dancers in the history of film and t...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Fred Astaire Planning Dance Moves, 1934

Bette Davis: Piercing Gaze

By Elmer Fryer

Located in Austin, TX

Gorgeous capture of Bette Davis posed looking to the camera. Bette Davis was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Digital

Bette Davis: Piercing Gaze, 1937

Bette Davis: The Petrified Forest

By Elmer Fryer

Located in Austin, TX

This black and white portrait features American actress of film, television, and theater, Bette Davis. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she is known fo...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Bette Davis: The Petrified Forest, 1938

Orson Welles Leaning in the Studio

By Ernest Bachrach

Located in Austin, TX

This black and white capture features Orson Welles posed seated and leaning on a chair in the studio. Orson Welles was an American actor, director, writer, and producer who worked ...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Orson Welles Leaning in the Studio, 1939

Kirk Hutton 'Commissionaire's Dog' Limited Edition Photographic Print, 20x16

Located in San Rafael, CA

A hotel commissionaire talking to a small dachshund dog in Piccadilly Circus, London. Original Publication: Picture Post - 2 - In The Heart of the Empire - pub. 1938 (Photo by Kurt Hutton/Getty Images) As an authorized Getty Images Gallery...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Kirk Hutton
Kirk Hutton 'Commissionaire's Dog' Limited Edition Photographic Print, 20x16, 1938

Portrait of Toumanova

By George Platt Lynes

Located in New York, NY

1938 Studio stamp, verso Vintage gelatin silver print 9 x 7 inches This work is offered by CLAMP in New York City.

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

George Platt Lynes
Portrait of Toumanova, 1938

Amelia Earhart Flight over Washington D.C.

Located in Austin, TX

After appearing before a Senate Committee on air safety, Amelia took off in the Department of Commerce's new safety plane for a flight over Washington D.C.. 1936. Amelia Earhart was...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Amelia Earhart Flight over Washington D.C., 1936

'Swan in Car' Limited Edition Photograph by Getty Images Gallery, 20x16

Located in San Rafael, CA

April, 6 1936: A tame swan named Leila is given a lift in the back of a car. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) As an authorized Getty Images Gallery...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper

'Swan in Car' Limited Edition Photograph by Getty Images Gallery, 20x16, 1936

'Cheetah Who Shops' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x24

Located in San Rafael, CA

American silent film actress Phyllis Gordon (1889 - 1964) window-shopping in Earls Court, London with her four-year-old cheetah who was flown to Britain from Kenya. (Photo by B C Par...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

'Cheetah Who Shops' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x24, 1939

'Cheetah Who Shops' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x16

Located in San Rafael, CA

American silent film actress Phyllis Gordon (1889 - 1964) window-shopping in Earls Court, London with her four-year-old cheetah who was flown to Britain from Kenya. (Photo by B C Par...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

'Cheetah Who Shops' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x16, 1939

'Swan in Car' Limited Edition Photograph by Getty Images Gallery, 20x24

Located in San Rafael, CA

April, 6 1936: A tame swan named Leila is given a lift in the back of a car. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) As an authorized Getty Images Gallery...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper

'Swan in Car' Limited Edition Photograph by Getty Images Gallery, 20x24, 1936

'Swan in Car' Limited Edition Photograph by Getty Images Gallery, 30x40

Located in San Rafael, CA

April, 6 1936: A tame swan named Leila is given a lift in the back of a car. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) As an authorized Getty Images Gallery...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper

'Swan in Car' Limited Edition Photograph by Getty Images Gallery, 30x40, 1936

Wizard of Oz the Yellow Brick Road

Located in Austin, TX

This is a new limited edition fine art release of a scene from the 1939 movie classic, The Wizard Of Oz This classic scene features the Scare Crow, Tin Man, Dorothy and Toto skipping...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Wizard of Oz the Yellow Brick Road, 1939

'Hungry Elephant' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x30

Located in San Rafael, CA

An elephant named Mae West accepts an apple from a passing tram driver while taking her morning exercise along Gray's Inn Road, London, 16th December 1936. Mae is helping to publicis...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper

'Hungry Elephant' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x30, 1936

'Hungry Elephant' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x16

Located in San Rafael, CA

An elephant named Mae West accepts an apple from a passing tram driver while taking her morning exercise along Gray's Inn Road, London, 16th December 1936. Mae is helping to publicis...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper

'Hungry Elephant' Limited Edition Photographic Print by Getty, 20x16, 1936

Babe Ruth: The Sultan of Swat

Located in Austin, TX

Great black and white action shot of Babe Ruth on the field, bats thrown over his shoulder and smiling. was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Bas...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Babe Ruth: The Sultan of Swat, 1930

Bette Davis Smoking

Located in Austin, TX

Stunning artistically colored image of Bette Davis posed on an armchair in the studio, smoking a cigarette. Bette Davis was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 ...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Pigment

Bette Davis Smoking, 1933

Rita Hayworth in Burbank 20" x 16" Edition of 125

By Frank Worth

Located in Austin, TX

Black and white candid image of Rita Hayworth in Burbank, walking along a beautiful street scene. Rita Hayworth was an American actress, dancer, and producer. She achieved fame duri...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Frank Worth
Rita Hayworth in Burbank 20" x 16" Edition of 125, 1939

Classic Comedian and Film Stars of the 30s

Located in Austin, TX

This black-and-white group portrait features some of the greatest stars of the 1920s and 30s all standing together and chatting. From left to right: Bela Lugosi...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Classic Comedian and Film Stars of the 30s, 1930

Etudiants Romaines à Rome - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Etudiants Romaines à Rome is an original artwork realized in 1938 in Rome and published by Agence Trampus, Paris. The title, the original description with the date and the hallmark o...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Etudiants Romaines à Rome - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Inauguration by Mussolini - Vintage Photo - 1930s

Located in Roma, IT

Inauguration is an original photograph realized in 1935. Published by Agence Trampus, Paris. The original hallmark of Agence Trampus on the back is present. There is a small piece o...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Inauguration by Mussolini - Vintage Photo - 1930s, 1930s

Burroughs Family, Alabama, Black and White Portrait Photography, Edition 44/75

By Walker Evans

Located in New york, NY

Burroughs Family, Hale County, Alabama, 1936 is paper size: 11" x 11.25" and image size: 7.5" x 9.4" A silver gelatin print c.1978 in an edition 44/75. Inscribed in ink on front of p...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper

Walker Evans
Burroughs Family, Alabama, Black and White Portrait Photography, Edition 44/75, 1936

Robert Taylor

By George Hurrell

Located in New York, NY

Robert Taylor 1936/printed later Signed and numbered, recto Gelatin silver print (Edition of 190) 24.25 x 20 inches (61.6 x 50.8 cm) Contact gallery ...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

George Hurrell
Robert Taylor, 1936/printed later

Frank Sinatra - Me and My Shadow

By Nancy Sinatra Sr.

Located in Chicago, IL

Portrait of Frank Sinatra circa 1939. Taken at their apartment on Garden St, Hoboken, NJ. Photo by Nancy Sinatra Senior. This striking photo is one of the family’s favorites. This is...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

Nancy Sinatra Sr.
Frank Sinatra - Me and My Shadow, 1939

Frank Sinatra "Selfie" on the stairs

By Frank Sinatra

Located in Chicago, IL

“Selfie” on the stairs of a young Frank Sinatra. Self Portrait circa late 1930s. Likely taken on the stairs at Sinatra’s parents in Hoboken, NJ. Giclee ...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra "Selfie" on the stairs, Late 1930s

Frank Sinatra "Selfie" in the Medicine Cabinet

By Frank Sinatra

Located in Chicago, IL

An early Self Portrait of Frank Sinatra circa late 1930s. At home in Hoboken, NJ. One of the earliest photos found in the family archive and perhaps, lik...

Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Giclée

Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra "Selfie" in the Medicine Cabinet , Late 1930's

Contemporary portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary portrait 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. If you’re looking to add portrait photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Stefanie Schneider, Tyler Shields, Urizen Freaza, and Clare Marie Bailey. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Photographic 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 Contemporary portrait photography, so small editions measuring 1.58 inches across are also available.

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