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Photorealist Portrait Photography

PHOTOREALISM

A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design.

Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story.

The virtues of the “photo” in Photorealist art — infused as they are with dazzling qualities that are easily blurred in reproduction — are as elusive as they are allusive. “Much Photorealist painting has the vacuity of proportion and intent of an idiot-savant, long on look and short on personal timbre,” John Arthur wrote (rather admiringly) in the catalogue essay for Realism/Photorealism, a 1980 exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At its best, Photorealism is a perpetually paused tug-of-war between the sacred and the profane, the general and the specific, the record and the object.

Robert Bechtle invented Photorealism, in 1963,” says veteran art dealer Louis Meisel. “He took a picture of himself in the mirror with the car outside and then painted it. That was the first one.”

The meaning of the term, which began for Meisel as “a superficial way of defining and promoting a group of painters,” evolved with time, and the core group of Photorealists slowly expanded to include younger artists who traded Rolleiflexes for 60-megapixel cameras, using advanced digital technology to create paintings that transcend the detail of conventional photographs.

On 1stDibs, the collection of Photorealist art includes work by Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Chuck Close, Audrey Flack, Charles Bell and others.

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Style: Photorealist
Tom Waits, Mantello, 1992
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Tom Waits, taken in Paris 1992 by Guido Harari 16x20" giclee print Guido Harari has photographed many music legends in his prolific career in Italy. Lou Reed said about him: "I'm always happy when Guido takes my picture because I know it will be a musical picture...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Giclée

Bob Dylan Contact Sheet Print
Located in Austin, TX
Contact sheet of Bob Dylan, taken at the BBC TV Studios, London 1965 by Barrie Wentzell Barrie recalls : On the first of June, 1965, Bob came to the BBC Studios in London, to do a live concert. I went along to rehearsals but the studio was empty, so I headed off to the canteen bar where I ran into some musicians I knew from The Pretty Things. Sitting a few tables away were Bob Dylan and his chum Bobby Neuwirth. I sat and chatted with the Pretty Things, who later would be immortalized in a line in one of Bob’s songs, “The Sweet Pretty Things are in bed now, of course. This Bob Dylan print...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Giclée

Deborah Harry, 1986
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Francesco Scavullo (after) Title: Deborah Harry, 1986 Portfolio: A Photographic Retrospective, Volume I: Song Medium: Gelatin Silver Print Year: 2004 Edition: Outside the edi...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

MAN RAY (1890-1976), RAYOGRAPH, 1923 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: RAYOGRAPH Date Of Negative: 1923 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 1934 1st Edi...
Category

1920s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Jack Nicholson 1961 portrait by Monte Hellman. Signed silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
Jack Nicholson, 1961 portrait by film director Monte Hellman Silver gelatin print 16x20 Signed au verso in pencil by the artist Monte Hellman (1929-202...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Elvis Presley "The Early King" 1956
Located in Austin, TX
Fine art print of Elvis Presley "The Early King" from the collection of acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1956 These prints are 16x20" open edition and come with full...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

David Bowie & Twiggy Pin-Ups Contact Sheet, 1973 by Justin De Villeneuve
Located in Austin, TX
English model Twiggy poses with David Bowie in Paris for the cover of his ‘Pin Ups’ album, 1973, by Justin de Villeneuve Justin recalls, "Twiggy and I were staying in the Bel Air Hotel in LA when Peter...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Adele Collins for British Vogue
Located in Austin, TX
Norman Parkinson’s homage to a painting by Dutch artist Kees van Dongen entitled The Corn Poppy. Adele Collins wearing an Otto Lucas velvet toque. British V...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

MAN RAY (1890-1976), ARNOLD SCHOENBERG, 1934 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: ARNOLD SCHOENBERG Date Of Negative: 1934 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 1934...
Category

1920s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Nirvana by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of grunge band Nirvana featuring Kurt Cobain, Chris Novoselic and Foo Fighters Dave Grohl, from acclaimed music photographer, Chris Cuffaro. Taken in March of 1991 in an alleyway in Seattle Signed limited edition 17x22" print, edition number 24/50 Chris Cuffaro has shot the best of the best in the music world including ground-breaking bands like Jane’s Addiction...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Rolling Stones "Stones Into Camera" London 1968
Located in Austin, TX
“Stones Into Camera” by Michael Joesph from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, London, 1968. Featuring Mi...
Category

1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

David Bowie Ohio 1976 by Janet Macoska
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie, photographed performing live on stage in Ohio, 1976 by Janet Macoska Available in various sizes: 16x20" Lambda C-Type Edition: 25 20x24...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall nude contact sheet by Norman Parkinson
Located in Austin, TX
Contact sheet print featuring American model Jerry Hall with singer Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, photographed for Norman Parkinson’s exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

The Rolling Stones "Swarkestone Contact Sheet" Beggars Banquet
Located in Austin, TX
“Swarkestone Contact Sheet” by Michael Joesph from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, London, 1968. Featu...
Category

1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Dolly Parton 1977 portrait by Allan Tannenbaum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 20x24" print of Dolly Parton taken in New York City in 1977 by Allan Tannenbaum. Edition number 5/25 This Dolly Parton print is also available in the follow...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Steve Martin, “Let’s Get Small Sequence”, framed 24x48" print by Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 24" x 48" print, edition number 26/50. Custom frames with 8 ply matte and non-glare museum glass Frame dimensions: 56” wide x 30” high x 1” deep As a renowne...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Tori Amos 1994 Vintage 12"x16" Darkroom Print by Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Oginal hand-printed 12x16” darkroom vintage print from photographer Jake Chessum of Tori Amos. Printed by Jake in the 90's, at the time of the photo shoot. Jake recalls the session...
Category

1990s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

MAN RAY (1890-1976), HENRI MATISSE, 1922 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: HENRI MATISSE Date Of Negative: 1922 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 1934 1st...
Category

1920s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photogravure

The Rolling Stones "Between The Buttons" outtake by Gered Mankowitz framed
Located in Austin, TX
The Rolling Stones, taken in London back in 1965 by Gered Mankowitz. An outtake from the shoot for the front cover of the 1967 Rolling Stones album, Between The Buttons . The photog...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

PJ Harvey by Simon Fowler
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of PJ Harvey, taken by Simon Fowler in the UK in 1995 Available in the following sizes: 12 x 17” - open edition 15 x 22” - Edi...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of British singer Ian Curtis performing with Joy Division at the Futurama One Festival at the Queen's Hall, Leeds, 8th September 1979. The...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Jimi Hendrix classic color by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, TX
Jimi Hendrix “Classic Color” 1967 by Gered Mankovitz Available is the following sizes, signed and numbered by Gered Mankowitz. 16x20” - Edition 50 20x24" - Edition 50 30x40” - Edit...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Dolly Parton
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print by Ed Caraeff of Dolly Parton taken during the cover session for her album ‘Here You Come Again’ in Los Angeles, CA, US, July...
Category

1970s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

David Bowie Aladdin Sane by Brian Duffy with black mat and gold frame
Located in Austin, TX
David Bowie Aladdin Sane album cover print from Brian Duffy Taken from the original 1973 negative, these official Duffy Archive prints are open edition, authenticated with the offic...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

MAN RAY (1890-1976), SURREAL DISTORTED HOUSE, 1920 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: SURREAL DISTORTED HOUSE REFLECTION Date Of Negative: 1920 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Da...
Category

1920s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Bob Marley by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20"" print of Bob Marley by Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1980. Limited edition number 6/20 Modern C-type print. Available for immediate shipping. Lynn Goldsm...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Patti Smith by Lynn Goldsmith, framed signed limited edition print
Located in Austin, TX
Fine art print of punk musician and poet, Patti Smith by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in New York City in 1977. Framed, signed limited edition 16x20" print, edition...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Debbie Harry by Lynn Goldsmith, framed signed limited edition print
Located in Austin, TX
Fine art print of Debbie Harry of Blondie by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in New York City in 1977. Framed, signed limited edition 16x20" print, edition #2/20 Cust...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

MAN RAY (1890-1976), ABSTRACT RAYOGRAPHY, 1927 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: ABSTRACT RAYOGRAPHY Date Of Negative: 1927 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 19...
Category

1920s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Pamela Des Barres 1968 Groupies, signed limited edition silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
Miss Pamela by Baron Wolman, taken in Los Angeles in 1968 as part of Baron's Groupies series, taken for Rolling Stone magazine. Limited edition number 2/1...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Raquel Welch on the cross signed Lifetime Edition
Located in Austin, TX
Lifetime prints are the last remaining prints available, signed by Terry O’Neill and obtained from the Terry O’Neill Archive in London. American actress Raquel Welch being crucified in an oddly anachronistic publicity still for the Hammer Films production 'One Million Years BC...
Category

1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Diana Ross
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Diana Ross, taken by Barrie Wentzell in 1975. This Diana Ross print is available in the following sizes. 16...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

David Bowie Aladdin Sane Contact Sheet by Brian Duffy framed
Located in Austin, TX
Contact sheet print taken from the David Bowie Aladdin Sane album cover shoot by Brian Duffy Taken from the original 1973 negatives, these official Duffy Archive prints are open edi...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

MAN RAY (1890-1976), ANDRE DERAIN, 1926 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: Andre Derain Date Of Negative: 1926 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 1934 1st ...
Category

1920s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photogravure

Snoop Dogg by Jake Chessum, framed 9x12" print
Located in Austin, TX
Framed, 9x12" signed open edition print of Snoop Dogg by Jake Chessum Jake recalls the session: “I photographed Snoop at Milk studios in LA. Everybody on the shoot was so excited to...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Giclée

Red Hot Chili Peppers by Ebet Roberts
Located in Austin, TX
A classic, stunning shot of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1985 by celebrated photographer, Ebet Roberts. Signed limited edition, hand printed sil...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Miss Sparky 1968 Groupies, signed limited edition silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
Miss Sparky by Baron Wolman, taken in Los Angeles in 1968 as part of Baron's Groupies series, taken for Rolling Stone magazine. Limited edition number 2/150, signed and noted by Bar...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

David Bowie Scary Monsters Clown Contact Sheet by Duffy
Located in Austin, TX
Museum quality contact sheet print of David Bowie in the Scary Monsters Clown costume from the official Duffy Archive. Taken from the original negatives from the Scary Monsters and ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Kate Bush Lionheart album cover
Located in Austin, TX
Portrait of singer and dancer, Kate Bush by acclaimed photographer, Gered Mankowitz, taken in his London studio in 1978 for the cover of her album, Lionheart. Gered recalls, "The cover series of portraits that I shot for Lionheart in August 1978. I art directed the album cover and my assistant at the time, Richard Grey...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Rolling Stones Mick Jagger by Jim Herrington
Located in Austin, TX
Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 1989 by Jim Herrington 17x22" Archival pigment print on baryta 315 gsm, acid-free, 100% cotton-fiber paper. Edition 75 ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Jimi Hendrix 1967 Contact Sheet by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, TX
Jimi Hendrix, London 1967 by Gered Mankowitz taken during Gered's first phot shoot with Hendrix. Signed limited edition 16x20" print, signed and numbered by Gered Mankowitz featuri...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Black and White Portrait of an Elderly Gentleman - Imogen Cunningham
Located in Soquel, CA
Portrait of a seated elderly man by Imogen Cunningham (American, 1883). Presented in a new white mat with black accent. Tag from the studio of Imogen Cunningham affixed to verso of m...
Category

1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

The Doors by Art Kane
Located in Austin, TX
The Doors, taken in 1968 by Art Kane The band shot that accompanied the Jim Morrison TV/Xray portrait in Life Magazine’s April 1968 ‘The New Rock’ photo essay. This photograph is an...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Jefferson Airplane 1968 for the cover of Life Magazine by Art Kane
Located in Austin, TX
Taken for the cover of Life Magazine, Jefferson Airplane, 1968 by Art Kane Art Kane pioneered the art of conceptual portraiture. He didn’t photograph artists doing their thing, he p...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders by Ebet Roberts
Located in Austin, TX
Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders taken backstage at Toad’s Place in New Haven, Connecticut, 26th March 1980 by Ebet Roberts. Signed limited edition, hand printed silver gelatin prin...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Giclée

David Bowie Smoking Clown Contact Sheet by Duffy
Located in Austin, TX
Museum quality contact sheet print of David Bowie smoking a cigarette in the Scary Monsters Clown costume from the official Duffy Archive. Taken from the original negatives, these o...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

HANK WILLIAMS III by Jim Herrington
Located in Austin, TX
Hank Williams III, Nashville, Tennessee, 1998. On August 17, 1952, Hank Williams was jailed overnight in Alexander City, Alabama for drunken and disorderly behavior. 46 years, 2 months and 10 days later in 1998. photographer Jim Herrington paid homage to that moment whilst photographing his grandson Shelton Williams, aka Hank III, in the stench-y alley behind the Ryman Auditorium. The “jail door...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Faye Dunaway Oscar outtake by Terry O'Neill signed Lifetime Edition
Located in Austin, TX
Lifetime prints are the last remaining prints available, signed by Terry O’Neill and obtained from the Terry O’Neill Archive in London. American actress Faye Dunaway takes breakfast by the pool with the day's newspapers at the Beverley Hills...
Category

1970s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

David Bowie with Scottie Dog by Brian Duffy
Located in Austin, TX
Museum quality print of David Bowie from the official Duffy Archive. Taken from the original 1980 negative, these official Duffy Archive prints are open edition, authenticated with...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

David Bowie - Scary Monsters Remastered Color Contact Sheet by Duffy
Located in Austin, TX
David Bowie - Scary Monsters Remastered Color Contact Sheet Taken from the original negatives, these official Duffy Archive prints are open edition, authenticated with the official ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Jack Nicholson
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Jack Nicholson at the Carlisle Hotel, March 1981 by Allan Tannenbaum. Allan Tannenbaum prints are available in...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Rolling Stones "Keith and Pug"
Located in Austin, TX
The Rolling Stones "Keith and Pug" - Outtake from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hamp...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Rock and Roll Circus Group Portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition, archival pigment print from photographer Alec Byrne, taken during the Rock and Roll Circus taping on December 11th, 1968 featuring, ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin

Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix 1967 silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Mick Jagger with Jimi Hendrix by Alec Byrne, taken at the Top Of The Pops TV studios, London, May 1967. Alec recalls, “I got a late p...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Rolling Stones "Mick and Chick" Beggars Banquet
Located in Austin, TX
“Mick and Chick” by Michael Joesph from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, L...
Category

1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

MAN RAY (1890-1976), PAUL ELUARD, 1930 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: PAUL ELUARD Date Of Negative: 1930 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 1934 1st E...
Category

1920s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photogravure

David Bowie Aladdin Sane Eyes Open by Brian Duffy
Located in Austin, TX
David Bowie Aladdin Sane "Eyes Open" print from Brian Duffy, taken during the phot shoot for the Aladdin Sane album cover. Taken from the original 1973 negatives, these official Du...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

June Carter and Johnny Cash by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20"" print of June Carter and Johnny Cash taken during a performance in 1980 by Lynn Goldsmith. Limited edition number 2/20 Modern C-type print. Available...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Photorealist portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist 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, pink, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Lynn Goldsmith, Jake Chessum, Drew Tal, and Kevin Cummins. Frequently made by artists working with C Print, and Pigment Print and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Photorealist portrait photography, so small editions measuring 6.25 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 $210 and tops out at $28,800, while the average work sells for $2,250.

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