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Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

American, 1952-2000

Herb Ritts Jr. fashioned himself into one of the top photographers to emerge from the 1980s.

Ritts's aesthetic incorporated facets of life in and around Los Angeles. He often made use of the bright California sunlight to produce bold contrasts, and his preference for outdoor locations such as the desert and the beach helped to separate his photography from that of his New York-based peers.

Ritts's intimate portraiture, his modern yet classical treatment of the nude, and his innovative approach to fashion brought him international acclaim and placed him securely within an American tradition of portrait and magazine photography that includes Richard Avedon, Robert Mapplethorpe and Irving Penn.

From the late 1970s until Ritts's untimely death from AIDS-related complications in 2002, his ability to create images that successfully bridged the gap between art and commerce was not only a testament to the power of his imagination and technical skill, but also marked the synergistic union between art, popular culture and business that followed in the wake of the Pop art movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

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Artist: Herb Ritts
Male Nude with Thorns, Joshua Tree
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Sepia-toned gelatin silver print with matte finish (Edition of 25) Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, verso Also blindstamped, l.r. This artwork is offered by ClampArt,...
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1980s Other Art Style Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

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Silver Gelatin

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Herb Ritts figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Herb Ritts figurative photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Herb Ritts in silver gelatin print and more. Not every interior allows for large Herb Ritts figurative photography, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Ron Tarver, Mario Algaze, and Nicholas Taylor.
Questions About Herb Ritts Figurative Photography
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Herb Ritts was known for his black and white style of photography. He shot a wide range of celebrities and iconic figures in the 1980s and ‘90s, and his work took inspiration from ancient Greek sculpture styles. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Herb Ritts pieces from top sellers around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Herb Ritts got into photography because of his friend, the actor Richard Gere. Before Gere became famous, Ritts agreed to take promotional photos of him in front of a classic car. The media widely circulated the photograph, and Ritts became more interested in the art form. You'll find a range of Herb Ritts photographic art on 1stDibs.

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