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Modern Portrait Photography

MODERN STYLE

The first decades of the 20th century were a period of artistic upheaval, with modern art movements including Cubism, Surrealism, Futurism and Dadaism questioning centuries of traditional views of what art should be. Using abstraction, experimental forms and interdisciplinary techniques, painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and performance artists all pushed the boundaries of creative expression.

Major exhibitions, like the 1913 Armory Show in New York City — also known as the “International Exhibition of Modern Art,” in which works like the radically angular Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp caused a sensation — challenged the perspective of viewers and critics and heralded the arrival of modern art in the United States. But the movement’s revolutionary spirit took shape in the 19th century.

The Industrial Revolution, which ushered in new technology and cultural conditions across the world, transformed art from something mostly commissioned by the wealthy or the church to work that responded to personal experiences. The Impressionist style emerged in 1860s France with artists like Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas quickly painting works that captured moments of light and urban life. Around the same time in England, the Pre-Raphaelites, like Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, borrowed from late medieval and early Renaissance art to imbue their art with symbolism and modern ideas of beauty.

Emerging from this disruption of the artistic status quo, modern art went further in rejecting conventions and embracing innovation. The bold legacy of leading modern artists Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian and many others continues to inform visual culture today.

Find a collection of modern paintings, sculptures, prints and other fine art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Modern
Slim Aarons Official Estate Print - Checkered Flag 1963 - Oversize
Located in London, GB
Checkered Flag The checkered flag signals the end of the race during the 1963 Nassau Speed Week. Paper size 20 x 30" inches / 51 x 76 cm Estate Sta...
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Norman Parkinson 'Jerry Hall in feathered Dior, 1975'
Located in New York, NY
Jerry Hall is photographed wearing a one-shouldered satin column dress and feathered coat by Dior during a British Vogue photoshoot at the Palace of Versailles. The image, taken Sept...
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Norman Parkinson 'Celia Hammond in Goggles for Queen Magazine, 1964'
Located in New York, NY
Celia Hammond is photographed by Norman Parkinson wearing goggles and a headdress made of silk chiffon for Queen magazine in 1964. Hammond became a favorite model of Parkinson's and ...
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Norman Parkinson 'Montgomery Clift in New York, 1952'
Located in New York, NY
American actor Montgomery Clift photographed in New York for British Vogue, November 1952. Montgomery Clift in New York, 1952 Silver gelatin print Estate stamped and numbered editio...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Norman Parkinson 'Jerry Hall in feathered Dior, 1975'
Located in New York, NY
Jerry Hall is photographed wearing a one-shouldered satin column dress and feathered coat by Dior during a British Vogue photoshoot at the Palace of Versailles. The image, taken Sept...
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Baths of Caracalla - Vintage photo by Ludovico Tuminello - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Baths of Caracalla is a vintage print in salt silver realized by Ludovico Tuminello in the early 20th Century. Titled on the lower. Good conditions with some foxing and folding 
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Lady's Painting - Vintage Photograph - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Lady's Painting is a vintage photo, realized in the early-20th Century  Good conditions and aged It belongs to a historical and Nostalgic album including historical moments, places...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Ted Williams 'Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter & Johnny Griffin'
Located in New York, NY
Ted Williams Johnny Frigo, Lurlean Hunter & Johnny Griffin for Downbeat Magazine 1960 (printed later) Silver gelatin print 30 x 30 inches Estate stamped and numbered edition 25 with...
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Autograph portrait of Inge Egger - Vintage b/w Postcard - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Autographed Portrait of Inge Egger is a b/w postcard reproducing the portrait of the Austrian stage, television and film actoress, Inge Egger (Linz, Austria, 1923 – Berlin, Germany, ...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Paper, Photographic Paper

3 Black & White Americana Photographs by Mystery Artists
Located in New York, NY
Untitled, c. later 20th century Three black and white photographs Dimensions: 1. 8 5/8 x 6 3/4 in. 2. 10 x 7 3/4 in. 3. 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. Each photograph laid to mat board measuring...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Black and White

Anna Magnani - Vintage Photograph - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Anna Magnani - Vintage Photo is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper, realized in the 1960s. Good conditions. Anna Magnani was born ...
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Marilyn Monroe
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is an original vintage photograph taken by Milton Greene circa 1950's. This image depicts Hollywood icon and legendary beauty, Marilyn Monroe. This piece bears the Milton ...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Che Guevara
Located in Cologne, DE
Osvaldo Salas, widely recognized as one of the world’s great press photographers, was born in Havana, Cuba in 1914. At the age of fourteen, he left Havan...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Charles Aznavour and Milva - Photo- 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Charles Aznavour and Milva  is a photograph realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Historical Photo - China - Vintage Photo - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo - China is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the 1970s.  It belongs to a historical album including historical moments, royal families, and political eve...
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Historical Photo - BenKhedda - Vintage Photo - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo-BenKhedda is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the mid-20th century. Good conditions and aged. It belongs to a historical album including historical mom...
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Chaim Weizmann
Located in Kansas City, MO
Lotte Jacobi Chaim Weizmann Photograph Year: 1948 Size: 11.5x9.5in Annotated by hand on verso in pencil Ref.: 924802-1354 Lotte Jacobi (August 17, 1896 – May 6, 1990) was a leading American portrait photographer and photojournalist, known for her high-contrast black-and-white portrait photography, characterized by intimate, sometimes dramatic, sometimes idiosyncratic and often definitive humanist depictions of both ordinary people in the United States and Europe and some of the most important artists, thinkers and activists of the 20th century. Jacobi's photographic style stressed informality, and sought to delve deeper into the traits of her subjects than traditional portraiture. She made a point of photographing subjects in their own environments, and talking to them while she worked. She explained the reasoning behind her approach this way: "I just try and get people to talk, to relax, to be themselves. I don't like a passive, bored subject. I do portraits because I like people, and I want to bring out their personalities. Many photographers today, I think, are bringing out the worst part of people. I try and bring out the best." Jacobi is perhaps best known for her "portrait of Albert Einstein (Princeton, 1938), whom she photographed candidly, seated at his desk, dishevelled and dressed in a leather jacket, a work that was refused by Life magazine for its simplicity." Other personality-driven portraits include "Eleanor Roosevelt sitting back, gesturing, and obviously speaking in midsentence; Marc Chagall depicted as a jovial family man; Thomas Mann appearing as thoughtful as his work; and more candid, gentle portraits of Einstein." Other celebrated subjects included poets W. H. Auden, Robert Frost...
Category

1940s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Chaim Weizmann
$1,222 Sale Price
32% Off
Chaim Weizmann
Located in Kansas City, MO
Lotte Jacobi Chaim Weizmann Photograph Year: 1948 Size: 8.75x7.25in Annotated by hand on verso in pencil Ref.: 924802-1353 Lotte Jacobi (August 17, 1896 – May 6, 1990) was a leading American portrait photographer and photojournalist, known for her high-contrast black-and-white portrait photography, characterized by intimate, sometimes dramatic, sometimes idiosyncratic and often definitive humanist depictions of both ordinary people in the United States and Europe and some of the most important artists, thinkers and activists of the 20th century. Jacobi's photographic style stressed informality, and sought to delve deeper into the traits of her subjects than traditional portraiture. She made a point of photographing subjects in their own environments, and talking to them while she worked. She explained the reasoning behind her approach this way: "I just try and get people to talk, to relax, to be themselves. I don't like a passive, bored subject. I do portraits because I like people, and I want to bring out their personalities. Many photographers today, I think, are bringing out the worst part of people. I try and bring out the best." Jacobi is perhaps best known for her "portrait of Albert Einstein (Princeton, 1938), whom she photographed candidly, seated at his desk, dishevelled and dressed in a leather jacket, a work that was refused by Life magazine for its simplicity." Other personality-driven portraits include "Eleanor Roosevelt sitting back, gesturing, and obviously speaking in midsentence; Marc Chagall depicted as a jovial family man; Thomas Mann appearing as thoughtful as his work; and more candid, gentle portraits of Einstein." Other celebrated subjects included poets W. H. Auden, Robert Frost...
Category

1940s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Chaim Weizmann
$966 Sale Price
35% Off
Vintage Portrait of Anna Magnani - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Portrait of Anna Magnani is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper, realized in The Mid-20th. Good conditions. Anna Magnani was born in Rome, Italy (...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Portrait of Lady - Photograph - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Lady is a Vintage Photograph in the early 20th Century by Debenham Gould in Glen View Studio. With a Greenish Passepartout and Cover wrote: Debenham Gould, Glen View Stu...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Gianni Morandi and Claudio Villa - Vintage Photo - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Gianni Morandi and Claudio Villa - Vintage Photo is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Slim Aarons 'Truman Capote at Home' Midcentury Modern Photography
Located in New York, NY
Author Truman Capote (1924 - 1984) relaxes with a book and a cigarette in his cluttered apartment, Brooklyn Heights, New York. Truman Capote at Home 1960's C print Estate signature ...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Lambda

Ayatollah Khomeini - Photograph - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Ayatollah Khomeini is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Historical Photo - Portrait - Vintage Photo - 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo - Portrait is a  vintage photo, realized in the late 19th Century by Fermanelli & Betti Studio. . The artwork is a well-balanced composition.
Category

19th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Historical Photo - Portrait of Enrico Tamberlik - Vintage Photo - 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo - Portrait  of Portrait  of Enrico Tamberlik is a vintage photo, realized in the 19th Century . The artwork is a well-balanced composition.
Category

19th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Talitha and Paul Getty Jr.- Vintage Photograph - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Talitha and Paul Getty Jr. is a vintage photograph realized in the 1960s. Good conditions.
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren - Vintage b/w Photograph - 1963
Located in Roma, IT
Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren in a scene from the famous movie "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock. Vintage Photo. Damaged on the right side.
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Italian Actress and Singer Loretta Goggi - B/w Photo - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo. The Italian actress and singer Loretta Goggi in a stage costume.
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Muhammad Ali In London - Oversize Pigment Fine Art Baryta Print
By Len Trievnor
Located in London, GB
Muhammad Ali In London - Oversize Pigment Fine Art Baryta Print American Heavyweight boxer, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali, 1942 - 2016), relaxing his hotel room, London, 27th Ma...
Category

1960s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Black and White, Archival Pigment

Historical Photo of Prison Carinola - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo of Prison Carinola is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Gianni Morandi - Vintage photo - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Gianni Morandi  is a  vintage photo, realized in the 1960s. The artwork is a well-balanced composition.
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Historical Places Photo- Old Folkestone - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Places Photo- Folkestone is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the early 20th century. It belongs to historical album including masterpieces of historical places...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

President Jimmy Carter
Located in New York, NY
President Jimmy Carter Archival pigment print 24 x 24 inches Signed and numbered edition of 15 William Coupon is an American photographer, born in New York City, known principal...
Category

1980s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Vintage Photo of Painting - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of Painting is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the early 20th Century.  Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Women's Rights Movement - Historical Photos -1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Women's Rights Movement - Historical Photos is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1960s in Italy, it belong to album of women rights, protests, manifestation for th...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Photo of Painting by F. Gioli - Mother and Children - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of Painting  - Mother and Children is a vintage photograph realized in the early 20th Century.  The photo belongs to Album of historical paintings, meticulously captur...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Italian Actress and Singer Loretta Goggi - Photo- 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo. The Italian singer and actress Loretta Goggi with Antonio Fattorini
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Galyn Görg - 1985
Located in Roma, IT
Galyn Görg is a vintage black and white photograph realized in 1985. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Galyn Görg - 1985
$72 Sale Price
25% Off
The Cityscape - Photograph after Painting - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
The Cityscape - Photograph after Painting is a vintage black and white photographof an artwork realized in the 1960s, it is from a series of vintage photographs of the cultural and a...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

'The Duke & Duchess Of Sussex' Limited Edition Silver Gelatin print
By Georges De Keerle
Located in London, GB
'The Duke & Duchess Of Sussex' Limited Edition Silver Gelatin print by Georges De Keerle A beautiful commemorative silver gelatin fibre print....
Category

2010s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Jean-Paul Belmondo and Gina Lollobrigida in Mare Matto - Photo - 1963
Located in Roma, IT
Jean-Paul Belmondo and Gina Lollobrigida in Mare Matto is a vintage black and white photograph realized in 1963. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Italian Actress and Singer Loretta Goggi - Photo- 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo. The Italian singer and actress Loretta Goggi with Antonio Fattorini
Category

1970s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Elizabeth Taylor with Sunglasses for Giant - Oversize Limited Print
Located in London, GB
Elizabeth Taylor with Sunglasses for "Giant" 1955 by Frank Worth This iconic and elegant portrait captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth features actress Elizabeth Taylor o...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Old Days - Woman in Hollandaise Costume - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
The Old Days - Woman in Hollandaise Costume is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the early 20th century.  It belongs to historical album including historical moment, roya...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Behind Smoke (Thomas Hart Benton Plate #29)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Michael Mardikes Behind Smoke (Thomas Hart Benton Plate #29) Year: 1956, 2021 Archival Pigment Print on Premium Rag Image Size: 13.5x19 in Paper Size: 17x22 in Edition: 7 Monogrammed...
Category

1950s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Women's Rights Movement - Historical Photos -1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Women's Rights - Historical Photos is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1970s in Italy, it belongs to an album of women rights, protests, manifestation for their r...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Photo of a Painting by Giuseppe Raggio - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of a Painting  by Giuseppe Raggio is a vintage photograph realized in the early 20th Century.  The photo belongs to Albumen of historical painting, photographs, meticu...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Photo of Painting - Gladiator by Jean Léon Jerome - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of Painting - Gladiator Jean Léon Jerome is a vintage silver salt photograph realized in the early 20th Century.  Some foxing and missing...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Old Days - Smoking - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
The Old Days - Smoking Elderly is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the early 20th century.  It belongs to historical album including historical moment, royal families, a...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Photo of Painting - Rome, S. Cecilia Fresco - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of Painting - Rome, S. Cecilia Fresco by Pietro Cavallini is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the early 20th Century.  Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Women's Work - Historical Photos -1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Women's Work - Historical Photos is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1950s in Italy, it belongs to an album of women rights, protests, manifestation for their rig...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Portraits of the Jurors in the Ruby Trial - Historical Vintage Photo - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Portraits of the Jurors in the Ruby Trial is a black and white vintage photograph realized in the 1960s. It belongs to historical album including photo reportages of historical event...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Photo of a Painting by Antonio Peltrinelli- Photo - 1940s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of a Painting by Antonio Peltrinelli is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1940s. Good conditions.
Category

1940s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

All That Fall - Samuel Beckett play - 1964
Located in Roma, IT
All That Fall - Samuel Beckett play in is an vintage black and white photograph realized in 1964. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Portrait of Miranda Martino - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Miranda Martino is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1960s. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Anthony Delon , Sophie Duez and Alberto Lattuada in A Thorn - Photo - 1986
Located in Roma, IT
Anthony Delon , Sophie Duez and Alberto Lattuada in A Thorn in the Heart  is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1980s. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Photo of Painting by Tommaso Minardi - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of Painting  by Tommaso Minardi is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the early 20th Century.  The photo belongs to Albumen of historical painting, photo...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Architecture and Art Photo - Miracoli Church - Venice - 1920s
Located in Roma, IT
Architecture and Art Photo - Miracoli Church is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the 1920s. It belongs to masterpiece of art and architecture album meticulously captured....
Category

1920s Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Vintage Photo of an Orientalist Painting - Cityscape - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photo of an orientalist Painting - Cityscape is a vintage photograph realized in the early 20th Century.  The photo belongs to Albumen of historical painting, photographs, m...
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Jean-Paul Belmondo - Photo - 1990s
Located in Roma, IT
Jean-Paul Belmondo is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1990s. Good conditions.
Category

20th Century Modern Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Modern portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Modern 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, red, purple, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mark Shaw, Slim Aarons, Terry O'Neill, and Kevin Westenberg. 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 Modern portrait photography, so small editions measuring 0.63 inches across are also available. Prices for portrait 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 $22 and tops out at $152,896, while the average work sells for $1,806.

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