Though he began his artistic career as a painter, training at the Académie Julian in Paris, Edward Steichen is also known for his role in revolutionizing photography from a commercial tool into an artistic medium.
Famed artist and gallerist Alfred Stieglitz often featured Steichen’s artwork in the magazine Camera Work, published from 1903 to 1917 as photography gained popularity. Over the years, Steichen served as the chief photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair as well as the Director of Photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Steichen’s dramatic, highly stylized compositions and curatorial eye catapulted photography into greater prestige. An art critic quipped in 1905: "One should not say that he recalls Rembrandt but rather, at this rate, that Rembrandt will, in time, remind us of Steichen."
As Steichen shifted his artistic focus to photography, he destroyed nearly all of his painted compositions. Beethoven represents one of the very few surviving paintings and is considered his most remarkable.
Simultaneously realistic and symbolic, Beethoven reflects Steichen’s unmistakable talent for composition, balance and hue. He completed the painting in 1902, immediately receiving critical praise for its commanding nature. Beethoven was hung prominently beside his photos at Steichen’s first solo show in June 1902 at La Maison des Artistes. The artwork was then proudly exhibited at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, and later at the "National Arts Club Special Exhibition of Contemporary Art" in 1908.
Find original Edward Steichen photography and other art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by M.S. Rau)
Gary Cooper
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
Unsigned Gelatin silver print 11 x 14 inches (27.9 x 35.6 cm) This artwork is offered by CLAMP, New York.
Silver Gelatin, Photography
Leslie Howard
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
c. 1930 Unsigned Gelatin silver print 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm) This artwork is offered by CLAMP, New York.
Silver Gelatin, Photography
Eugene ONeill
By Edward Steichen
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Silver gelatin print Provenance: General Electric Corporate Collection Heather James Fine Art
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Lois Moran, circa 1926
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Greta Garbo, Hollywood
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
In his autobiography, A Life in Photography, Steichen gave a vivid recount of this sitting: 'When Garbo came in to pose for the Vanity Fair photograph, I asked her to sit on the c...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Greta Garbo, Hollywood
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
In his autobiography, A Life in Photography, Steichen gave a vivid recount of this sitting: 'When Garbo came in to pose for the Vanity Fair photograph, I asked her to sit on the c...
Silver Gelatin
Jacqueline Kennedy Sits at JFK's Senate Desk in 1959
By Mark Shaw
Located in New York, NY
Jacqueline Kennedy sits at JFK’s senate desk in 1959. Image size 10" x 15"/Paper size 11" x 17" All Mark Shaw prints are made to order in limited editio...
Photography
$5,000
H 11 in W 14 in
Eve Babitz and Marcel Duchamp playing chess during Duchamp's Pasadena Art Museum
By Julian Wasser
Located in New York, NY
Listing is for an unframed print and includes free shipping to the continental US and 14-day return policy. Julian Wasser Eve Babitz and Marcel Duchamp pl...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Audrey Hepburn Wearing Claire McCardell for Mademoiselle Magazine
By Mark Shaw
Located in New York, NY
Audrey Hepburn was photographed for the June 1954 issue of Mademoiselle. Her dress is a Claire McCardell creation. Image size 10" x 10"/Paper size 11" x 17" All Mark Shaw prints a...
Photography
Tirana, Albania, 2012
By Pentti Sammallahti
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Pentti Sammallahti is a benchmark figure in contemporary Finnish photography. His works depict nature eroded and broken down by civilization, but he does not put man and the environm...
Silver Gelatin
$23,728
H 24.02 in W 20.08 in
Charlotte, New York City, 1988 – Albert Watson, Black & White, Celebrity, Woman
By Albert Watson
Located in Zurich, CH
Albert WATSON (*1942, Scotland) Charlotte, New York City, 1988 1988 Silver gelatin print Image 61 x 51 cm (24 x 20 1/8 in.) Edition of 10, plus 2 AP Print only Albert Watson was b...
Silver Gelatin
$42,372
H 20.01 in W 16.01 in
Mick Jagger, New York City, 1989 – Albert Watson, Art, Black and White, Portrait
By Albert Watson
Located in Zurich, CH
ALBERT WATSON (*1942, Scotland) Mick Jagger, New York City, 1989 Vintage silver gelatin print Sheet 50,8 x 40,64 cm (20 x 16 in.) Unique Print only Albert Watson was born 1942 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He currently lives and works in New York. A student of the famous Royal College of Art in London Albert Watson (born 1942) is a Scottish photographer well known for his fashion, celebrity, and art photography, having shot over 200 Vogue and 40 Rolling Stone covers since the mid-1970s. His photographs are signature, classical, and bold, and in our world of manipulation, Watson prefers the enlargers and the trays; an artist who greatly enriches our perception with his unique photographic view. Photo District News named Watson one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time, along with Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, among others. Presented in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide Watson has won numerous awards, including a Lucie Award, a Grammy Award, the Hasselblad Masters Award, and three ANDY Awards. He was awarded The Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship (HonFRPS) in recognition of a sustained, significant contribution to the art of photography in 2010. – Photography, Black and White, Mike Jagger...
Silver Gelatin
$4,500
H 16 in W 24 in
"Marilyn Monroe, 1962" Photography 16 x 24 in Edition 57/75 by Lawrence Schiller
By Lawrence Schiller
Located in Culver City, CA
"Marilyn Monroe, 1962" Photography 16 x 24 in Edition 57/75 by Lawrence Schiller Silver Gelatin print Edition 57/75 Signed and numbered by the artist Printed later On Wednesday, May 23, 1962, Marilyn Monroe stepped onto the set of Something’s Got to Give to film what would become one of the most iconic and talked-about moments of her career: the now-legendary nude swimming pool scene. This extraordinary day—captured in a series of rare photographs by renowned photographer Lawrence Schiller—has since become a cornerstone of Hollywood history. Key moments that make this session truly historic: A Bold Cinematic First: Monroe spent nearly four hours in the pool on the 20th Century Fox lot, filming a sequence in which her character, Ellen Arden, appears to swim nude...
Silver Gelatin
$7,500
H 24 in W 16 in
"Marilyn Monroe, 1962" Photography 24 x 16 in Edition 3/35 by Lawrence Schiller
By Lawrence Schiller
Located in Culver City, CA
"Marilyn Monroe, 1962" Photography 24 x 16 in Edition 3/35 by Lawrence Schiller Silver Gelatin print Edition 3/35 Signed and numbered on recto by the artist Printed later On Wednesday, May 23, 1962, Marilyn Monroe stepped onto the set of Something’s Got to Give to film what would become one of the most iconic and talked-about moments of her career: the now-legendary nude swimming pool scene. This extraordinary day—captured in a series of rare photographs by renowned photographer Lawrence Schiller—has since become a cornerstone of Hollywood history. Key moments that make this session truly historic: A Bold Cinematic First: Monroe spent nearly four hours in the pool on the 20th Century Fox lot, filming a sequence in which her character, Ellen Arden, appears to swim nude...
Silver Gelatin
Jacqueline Kennedy and John Jr. in Palm Beach, 1963
By Mark Shaw
Located in New York, NY
Jacqueline Kennedy and John Jr. in Palm Beach, 1963. Image size 10" x 15"/Paper size 11" x 17" All Mark Shaw prints are made to order in limit...
Photography
$3,000
H 35.8 in W 23.8 in
Flower Throne 3 (Portrait, Floral, Dreamy, Surreal, Ghostly)
By David Pugh
Located in Kansas City, MO
David Pugh Flower Throne 3 From "BE, AND KNOW" Series Photographic Print on Fine Paper 2026 Size: 35.8 x 23.8 inches (90.93 x 60.45 cm) Edition: 5 COA included Label to be attached v...
Photography
$275
H 5.75 in W 4.75 in D 0.75 in
Signed Photo of WW II U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander in Chief Chester W. Nimitz
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is an authentic vintage personalized autographed photograph of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, one of the most legendary naval commanders in American history. SUBJECT: Che...
Photography
$1,490Sale Price|44% Off
H 36.5 in W 24.75 in D 1.25 in
Arise (Portrait, Floral, Dreamy, Surreal, Motion, Pose)
By David Pugh
Located in Kansas City, MO
David K. Pugh Arise From "BE, AND KNOW" Series Photographic Print on Fine Paper mounted on Foamcore 2026 Image Size: 35.94 x 23.94 inches (91.28 x 60.80 cm) Framed Size: 36.5 x 24.7...
Photography
$3,800
H 40 in W 30 in
"The Glimmer Twins - Mick Jagger" Photography 40x30 in by Charlie Auringer
By Charlie Auringer
Located in Culver City, CA
"The Glimmer Twins - Mick Jagger" Photography 40x30 in by Charlie Auringer Year: 1978 Edition of 50 Medium: Silver gelatin limited edition photographic print on paper Signed and num...
Silver Gelatin
Vintage Portrait Photograph - Depth
Located in Houston, TX
Silver gelatin photograph of a close up superimposed portraits by photographer Layet, circa 1950. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with a gold border. Archival pl...
Paper, Silver Gelatin
Brigitte Bardot, Hands in Lap
By Mark Shaw
Located in New York, NY
Brigitte Bardot photographed by Mark Shaw in 1958. Image size 10" x 15"/Paper size 11" x 17" All Mark Shaw prints are made to order in limited editions on Hahnemϋhle photo rag pape...
Photography
Portrait of Alfred Stieglitz
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
This is a photogravure that came out of a 1930's Camera Works. They are high quality prints from the artist's negatives and were put together in these historic spiral bound books. ...
Photogravure
Charlie Chaplin, Hat Trick #1
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Charlie Chaplin, Hat Trick #3
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin