At 15, the London-born David Bailey was jazz mad and Picasso loving but, being a dyslexic cockney, was booted out of school. Escape from gritty East London seemed unlikely until he picked up a Rolleiflex during his stint in the National Service. Three years later, in 1960, he was under contract at British Vogue.
Prodigiously talented, Bailey was also wildly charismatic and uncommonly pretty, a high-octane amalgam that no doubt fueled his meteoric rise. Soon, he was chronicling, and surfing, the cultural tsunami that transformed London in the Swinging Sixties, when young creatives from music, fashion, advertising, theater, film, TV and journalism toppled the British establishment to become the new royalty.
This was the moment when the seeds of celebrity culture were sown. Bailey snapped all these revolutionary aristos: John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Michael Caine, Tom Stoppard and David Hockney. Each and every one looks impossibly dewy and fresh and brims with an entirely modern derring-do.
So, too, do “the beautiful birds,” as Bailey called the alluring models and actresses who defined that decade: the exquisite Jean “Shrimp” Shrimpton, Twiggy, Penelope Tree, Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau, Catherine Deneuve. A number of them became his lovers, Deneuve his wife (he’s had four), for a time.
It was a wild ride for an East End lad and literally the stuff of movies. Bailey was the inspiration for the prowling fashion photographer Thomas, played by pretty boy David Hemmings, in one of the iconic films of that era, Antonioni’s Blowup.
But despite his playboy persona and lucrative work in fashion advertising, Bailey has always possessed real psychological depth and artistic ambition. He can snap like few others. His closest peer in spontaneity, insight and cool was Richard Avedon. Both preferred a white backdrop, strong lighting and a tight focus to capture that rare telling moment.
Someone shot with eyes shut is not an accident with Bailey but a revelation. To this day, he can’t explain how he works his magic, although he does liken it to shamanic conjuring. He makes no secret that he spends most of his time gabbing with his subject — he’s curious about everyone. Sometimes, the chatter is a seduction; occasionally, it becomes good-naturedly pugilistic. And then, in mere moments, the individual is sized and seized by his camera.
Browse David Bailey's revolutionary portraiture and fashion photography on 1stDibs.
$1,200
'Michael Cooper' 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's 'Box of Pin-Ups'
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Michael Cooper, photographer, doesn't so much dress as dress up. And his two-year-old son wears exactly the same clothes. Art Sz: 14" x 12" Frame Sz: 19 1/2" x 17 1/2" In bespoke...
Photographic Paper
'Jimmy Woolf' 1965 from David Bailey's 'Box of Pin-Ups'
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Producer of 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Room at the Top' who was one of the most successful impresarios in the British film industries Art Sz: 14" x 12" Fram...
Photographic Paper
P. J. Proby 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
P. J. Proby, Hollywood actor who starred in the movie 'Greatest Story Never Told' & in 1964 appeared in the Brian Epstein's TV spectacular, 'Meet the Bea...
Photographic Paper
$1,800
Brian Morris 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print by David Bailey for His Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Manager of the Ad Lib made it for a time the most successful nightclub in the world! Art Sz: 14"H x 12"W Frame Sz: 19 1/2"H x 17 1/2"W in bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green ...
Photographic Paper
Cecil Beaton and Rudolf Nureyev c1965 For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Cecil Beaton & Rudolf Nureyev c1965 Art Sz: 14"H x 12"W Frame Sz: 19 1/2"H x 17 1/2"W w/ bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green
Photographic Paper
$1,200
'James Wedge: The Mysterious Milliner' 1965 For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups'
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
James "Jimmy" Wedge (born 1939) is a British fashion designer, milliner and fashion photographer "He's a hopeless businessman, and though he should have made a lot of money, one som...
Photographic Paper
Rudolf Nureyev 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
The legendary dancer c1965 Art Sz: 14" x 12" Frame Sz: 19 1/2" x 17 1/2" in bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green
Photographic Paper
$11,600
H 22 in W 48 in
Imagine You Are Driving (Fast) Oliver with Helmet, Signed Lambda Print, 2002
By Julian Opie
Located in Aventura, FL
Lambda print in colors, on Fuji color photographic paper dry-mounted to PVC (as issued). Hand signed and numbered in black marker on the reverse. Edition of 25/50. Published by Ala...
PVC, Photographic Paper, Lambda
$1,721
H 17.72 in W 12.01 in D 1.19 in
Empress nude portrait Limited Edition Framed Print of the Hand Colour Photograph
By Katie Eleanor
Located in London, GB
© Katie Eleanor, IV., Eye Infection As A Result Of Ingesting Poison Series: Saint Wanderer's Hospital, 2015 Archival Pigment Print of the hand Coloured Photograph on cotton fine art paper, custom frame 7 1/2 × 5 7/10 in 19 × 14.5 cm (unframed print) 35 x 30.5 cm (Framed : Museum mount-board, antireflective art glass in hardwood custom frame) Edition of 15 Framed or Unframed option available Saint Wanderer’s Hospital depicts a fictional tale birthed from the artist’s inherent need to find splendour in the idea of sickness. Rooted first from her own words, Katie used the idea of illustrating as a form of personal art therapy by immersing herself in the realm of the otherworldly characters. Every aspect of each scene was created by Katie alone, from building and designing the sets to printing and hand-colouring the final images. In this act, over the year long course of the projects creation, the artist managed to make certain turmoil in her personal life bearable. In the world of the hospital, the artist adapts the role of medical photographer – creating accurate portraits of each character’s condition as a record for the hospitals future use. The final series comprises of 8 ‘specimen cased...
Watercolor, Photographic Paper, Color, Cotton, Archival Pigment
$206
H 15.75 in W 20.48 in D 1.38 in
Bandstand III, Eastbourne, UK - Black and White Vintage Photography
By Samuel Field
Located in Cambridge, GB
'Bandstand', captured on a visit to his grandparents at the British seaside in Eastbourne, this collection by Samuel Field is a beautiful reminder of days gone by. This artwork is a...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, C Print, Silver Gelatin
$294
H 11.62 in W 8.27 in D 0.04 in
Le Mannequin - Original PhotoLithograph by Jean Cocteau - Mid-20th Century
By Jean Cocteau
Located in Roma, IT
Le Mannequin is an original Vintage PhotoLitograph realized by Jean Cocteau in mid-20th century. Good condition on a white paper. No signature. Jean Cocteau, born on July 5 , 1889...
Photographic Paper
$15,000
H 17.5 in W 20 in D 4 in
Kiki Smith -- for Leslie Gore Mo Tucker Laura Nyro & Mama Cass, Signed/N, Framed
By Kiki Smith
Located in New York, NY
Kiki Smith For Leslie Gore, Mo Tucker, Laura Nyro and Mama Cass: What Girls Know About Grids (signed twice), 2000 Eight etching and relief etchings on handmade Japanese paper attache...
Handmade Paper, Photographic Paper, Etching
Mylene Demongeot - signed photograph, 50x40 cm.
By Sam Levin
Located in Nice, FR
Photograph of the french actress Mylene Demongeot, hand signed by Sam Levin. It comes framed Sam Lévin ou Sam Levin est un photographe français d'origine russe, né le 29 juillet 1904...
Photographic Paper
$11,600
H 22 in W 48 in
Imagine You Are Driving (Fast) Rio with Helmet, Lambda Print, Signed, 2002
By Julian Opie
Located in Aventura, FL
Lambda print in colors, on Fuji color photographic paper dry-mounted to PVC (as issued). Hand signed and numbered in black marker on the reverse. Edition of 36/50. Published by Ala...
PVC, Photographic Paper, Lambda
$206
H 15.75 in W 20.48 in D 1.38 in
Lisa - Dragstrip Girl, Las Vegas - Contemporary portrait color photography
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
Part of Richard Heeps 'Man's Ruin' Series, he shot a series of portraits of Lisa over three years at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. This artwork is a limited edition of 25...
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin
$11,600
H 22 in W 48 in
Imagine You Are Driving (Fast) Jacques, Lambda Print on PVC, Signed, 2002
By Julian Opie
Located in Aventura, FL
Lambda print in colors, on Fuji color photographic paper dry-mounted to PVC (as issued). Hand signed and numbered in black marker on the reverse. Edition of 34/50. Published by Ala...
PVC, Photographic Paper, Lambda
$206
H 16.15 in W 20.48 in D 1.38 in
Bandstand I, Eastbourne, UK - Black and White Vintage Photography
By Samuel Field
Located in Cambridge, GB
'Bandstand', captured on a visit to his grandparents at the British seaside in Eastbourne, this collection by Samuel Field is a beautiful reminder of days gone by. This artwork is a...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, C Print, Silver Gelatin
$358
H 21.66 in W 27.56 in D 1.38 in
Bandstand III, Eastbourne, UK - Black and White Vintage Photography
By Samuel Field
Located in Cambridge, GB
'Bandstand', captured on a visit to his grandparents at the British seaside in Eastbourne, this collection by Samuel Field is a beautiful reminder of days gone by. This artwork is a...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, C Print, Silver Gelatin
$358
H 21.66 in W 27.56 in D 1.38 in
Bandstand II, Eastbourne, UK - Black and White Vintage Photography
By Samuel Field
Located in Cambridge, GB
'Bandstand', captured on a visit to his grandparents at the British seaside in Eastbourne, this collection by Samuel Field is a beautiful reminder of days gone by. This artwork is a...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, C Print, Silver Gelatin
Sold
H 14 in W 12 in
Donald Grollman aka 'The Bongo Wolf' 1965 For David Bailey's Box of Pin-Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
David Bailey b&w photo of Donald Grollman aka Bongo Wolf c1965 Art Sz: 14"H x 12"W Frame Sz: 19 1/2"H x 17 1/2"W In bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing green Bongo Wolf was a le...
Photographic Paper
Sold
H 14 in W 12 in
Vidal Scissors Sassoon 1965 Half-Tone Photo Print For David Bailey's Box Pin Ups
By David Bailey
Located in Bristol, CT
Vidal Sassoon, CBE (1928-2012). British hairdresser to the stars! 1965 Art Sz: 14" x 12" Frame Sz: 19.5" x 17.5" in bespoke lavender mat w/ Brit racing...
Photographic Paper