Price Upon Request
Desert House Party
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Kaufmann, in Palm Springs Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printe...
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Price Upon Request
Desideria Corsini
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
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Price Upon Request
Poolside Backgammon
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Poolside Backgammon, 1972: Guests at Villa Nirvana in Las Brisas, Acapulco, Mexico Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by G...
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Price Upon Request
Californian Party
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
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Price Upon Request
USA Trianon
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
A group of young women enjoying the sunshine in the grounds of the former George Newhall estate in San Francisco Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons ...
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Price Upon Request
El Venero
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The Moorish villa of Hector and Chico de Ayala in Marbella, Spain Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archi...
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Price Upon Request
Faraglioni Rocks
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Faraglioni Rocks, 1974: Faraglioni Rocks on the Italian Island of Capri Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images...
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Price Upon Request
Mercedes Herrera De Benacerraf
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Kristie Karbstein Gerep
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
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Price Upon Request
Ursula Pacelli
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
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Price Upon Request
Capote At Home
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Capote At Home, 1958: Truman Capote relaxes in his cluttered Brooklyn Heights apartment Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed...
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Price Upon Request
Socialite Grannies
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Socialite Grannies, circa 1960: The de Young Sisters in the de Young Memorial Museum Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by...
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Price Upon Request
Man's Work, 1960: Hugh Hefner and Bunnies at the Playboy Key Club, Chicago
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Man's Work, 1960: Hugh Hefner and Bunnies at the Playboy Key Club, Chicago Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Ima...
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Price Upon Request
Having a Topping Time
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Having a Topping Time, 1959: Socialite Alice Topping relaxing poolside in Palm Beach Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed b...
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Price Upon Request
Truman Capote
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Truman Capote, 1970: Author of 'Breakfast a Tiffany's' and his dog in Palm Springs Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by G...
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Price Upon Request
Lawrence Peabody, Haiti
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
I'm Listening
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Beverly Hills Party
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Hunter Reggie Destro and Arnold Newman, Nairobi, Kenya
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Capote At Home
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Kings of Hollywood
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Pulitzer Fashions
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Pulitzer Fashions, 1964: The young matrons of Palm Beach wearing designs by Lilly Pulitzer, Palm Beach, Florida Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons A...
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Price Upon Request
Katharine Hepburn
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Katharine Hepburn, 1953: Driving along the waterfront with Irene Mayer Selznick at Montego Bay, Jamaica Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive,...
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Price Upon Request
Guinness Family
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Guinness Family, 1963: Desmond Guinness with his children Marina and Patrick, Leixlip Castle, Co Kildare, Ireland Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons...
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Price Upon Request
Coconut Cocktail
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Coconut Cocktail, 1952: Teddy Stauffer and a friend share a drink from a coconut shell, Acapulco, Mexico Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive,...
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Price Upon Request
Leisure and Fashion
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Leisure and Fashion, 1961: A woman watching a poolside fashion show at the Colony Hotel, Palm Beach Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owne...
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Price Upon Request
Connelly And Guest
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Guest with Joanne Connelly in Palm Beach Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photogr...
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Price Upon Request
Cosmetics Princess
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Cosmetics Princess, 1950: Prince and Princess Archil Gourielli in the living room of their New York apartment Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Arc...
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Price Upon Request
Pop and Society
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Pop and Society, 1968: Marianne Faithful, Desmond Guinness, and Mick Jagger at Castletown Mansion, Ireland Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archiv...
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Price Upon Request
Monocled Miss
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Monocled Miss, 1964: Renata Boeck enjoying breakfast in bed at the Regency Hotel in New York Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and h...
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Price Upon Request
Young and Carefree
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Young and Carefree, 1958: Christina and Alexander Onassis enjoying the sunshine at the Monte Carlo Beach Club Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Arc...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Family Snapper
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Family Snapper, 1959: Babe Paley and William Paley at their cottage in Round Hill, Jamaica Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and hou...
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Price Upon Request
Racquet Club Pool
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Racquet Club Pool, 1968: Guests in the pool at the Villa Vera Racquet Club, Acapulco, Mexico Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and h...
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Price Upon Request
Jacqueline Kennedy
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Jacqueline Kennedy at the "April in Paris" Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, 1959 Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and h...
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Price Upon Request
Sundowners
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Sundowners, circa 1958: Two bikini-clad holidaymakers enjoy a glass of wine outside the Carlton Hotel, Cannes Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Arc...
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Price Upon Request
Pool in Palm Beach
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Murray Goodman's house in Palm Beach, Florida Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All ph...
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Price Upon Request
C.Z. Guest
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
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Price Upon Request
Coward and Chums
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Wilson, Princess Natasha Paley and Joyce Carey at Sunset Lodge, Jamaica Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images...
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Price Upon Request
Pop and Society
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Catherine Wilke
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Minnie Cushing
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
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Price Upon Request
Salvador Dali, Port Ligat, Costa Brava
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Take It, 1970: Salvador Dali with some of his works at Port Ligat, Costa Brava Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty...
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Prince Philip Receives Windsor Cup at Ascot Polo Tournament
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
School Riding
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Cosmetics Princess, New York
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Jacqueline Kennedy, New York
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Poolside Gossip
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Poolside Gossip, 1970: Lita Baron, Nelda Linsk, Helen Dzo Dzo at the Richard Neutra-designed house of Edgar Kaufman Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aaro...
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Price Upon Request
C.Z. At Palm Beach
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Guest with Consuelo Vanderbilt at a party in Palm Beach Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in Lond...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Christmas Swim
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Christmas Swim, 1954: Rita Aarons swimming in a pool festooned with floating baubles and a decorated Christmas tree, Hollywood, California Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic pr...
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Price Upon Request
Park Avenue
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Park Avenue, 1953: A view of neatly arranged office and apartment blocks along Park Avenue in New York City Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archi...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Keep your Cool
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Keep your Cool, 1978: Carmen Alvarez enjoying a game of backgammon with Frank Brandstetter in a swimming pool in Acapulco, Mexico Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints fro...
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Price Upon Request
'Rollingstones'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Fan Mail
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Princess Ruspoli
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Leisure in Antibes
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Fan Mail
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
American photographer Slim Aarons captured the 20th century’s international jet set — U.S. socialites, European royalty, Hollywood stars — at play in sun-kissed locales like Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Palm Beach, as well as other luxurious settings around the globe.
Committed to eschewing makeup and artificial lighting, Aarons created images that are at once candid and polished, combining the relaxed posture of his subjects, who trusted him to document their lives, with the visual sharpness of a seasoned art director. Having gotten his start taking pictures for the U.S. military magazine Yank during World War II, he contributed over the course of his career to Life, Town and Country and Holiday magazines and published several books.
Aarons was born in Manhattan in 1916. He joined the army at 18, shooting military maneuvers at West Point before serving as a combat photographer, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart. After the war, he moved to California and began snapping socialites and movie stars.
In the 1950s, Aarons opened a bureau for Life magazine in Rome, where he took pictures capturing the postwar scene. He was always able to win the trust of his elite subjects, who saw him as close to a peer, rather than a paparazzo.
In a 2002 interview with The Independent, Aarons remarked, ''I knew everyone. They would invite me to one of their parties because they knew I wouldn't hurt them. I was one of them.'' This access allowed him to document the rich and famous with their guard down, reading newspapers and magazines, talking on the phone, relaxing by the pool, and chatting with friends. The 1957 photograph The Kings of Hollywood, for example, which won him wide acclaim, shows Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart laughing together as they celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Many of Aarons’s best-known images involve games and sports. In the 1972 Poolside Backgammon, two young women play the board game of the title against the backdrop of a majestic Acapulco estate. In 1958’s Cannes Watersports, a couple attempts to glide across the Golfe de la Napoule on Jet Skis, one expertly and one hanging on for dear life. And in Penthouse Pool, shot in Athens in 1961, a young woman wearing a yellow bathing cap smiles coyly at the camera, surrounded by friends and brightly colored seat cushions, with the Acropolis faintly visible in the background.
Among Aarons’s books are 1974’s A Wonderful Time: An Intimate Portrait of the Good Life, and its 2003 sequel, Once Upon a Time. His final book, A Place in the Sun, was published in 2005, one year before his death.
Find a collection of vintage Slim Aarons photography on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of photography on 1stDibs today.
The first permanent image created by a camera — which materialized during the 1820s — is attributed to Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The French inventor was on to something for sure. Kodak introduced roll film in the 1880s, allowing photography to become more democratic, although cameras wouldn’t be universally accessible until several decades later.
Digital photographic techniques, software, smartphone cameras and social-networking platforms such as Instagram have made it even easier in the modern era for budding photographers to capture the world around them as well as disseminate their images far and wide.
What might leading figures of visual art such as Andy Warhol have done with these tools at their disposal?
Today, when we aren’t looking at the digital photos that inundate us on our phones, we look to the past to celebrate the photographers who have broken rules as well as records — provocative and prolific artists like Horst P. Horst, Lillian Bassman and Helmut Newton, who altered the face of fashion and portrait photography; visionary documentary photographers such as Gordon Parks, whose best-known work was guided by social justice; and pioneers of street photography such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, who shot for revolutionary travel magazines like Holiday with the likes of globetrotting society lensman Slim Aarons.
Find photographers you may not know in Introspective and The Study — where you’ll read about Berenice Abbott, who positioned herself atop skyscrapers for the perfect shot, or “conceptual artist-adventurer” Charles Lindsay, whose work combines scientific rigor with artistic expression, or Massimo Listri, known for his epic interiors of opulent Old World libraries. Photographer Jeannette Montgomery Barron was given a Kodak camera as a child. Later, she shot on Polaroid film before buying her first 35mm camera in her teens. Barron's stunning portraits of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Warhol and other artists chronicle a crucial chapter of New York’s cultural history.
Throughout the past two centuries, photographers have used their medium to create expressive work that has resonated for generations. Shop a voluminous collection of this powerful fine photography on 1stDibs. Search by photographer to find the perfect piece for your living room wall, or spend some time with the work organized under various categories, such as landscape photography, nude photography and more.