Skip to main content

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.

Find original Herb Ritts Jr. photography on 1stDibs.

1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
20
3,167
318
283
265
1
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,...
Category

1980s Other Art Style Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Related Items
Mercer Street, 1992
By Todd Burris
Located in Hudson, NY
Listing is for UNFRAMED print. Inquire within for framing. Edition of 1 of 10 If the exhibition piece is sold or the customer orders a different print size, the photograph is produced upon purchase. Please allow two weeks for production. Shipping time depends on method of shipping. Price is subject to availability. The Robin Rice Gallery reserves the right to adjust this price depending on the current edition of the photograph This exhibition is a visual dance of contradictions. Whimsical and sophisticated. Stylistic and simple. Studied and carefree. That’s what emerges when you take a photojournalist by study, fashion photographer by trade and fine artist by instinct and leave him alone with his camera and a muse. Burris’ work is influenced by his early career spent working with fashion photographer Bill King and inspired by the decisive moment made known by the Henri Cartier Bresson. He defies the confines of either discipline. It is not fashion photography, which is by nature produced, but rather purely spontaneous. Todd left the world of fashion photography after building his own career in Milan and New York to go to LA and find his niche. He embraced his fascination with flea markets and penchant for discarded items that wouldn’t ever be chosen because they were trendy but because they were interesting. Burris packed his 1979 white Pontiac station wagon with his finds. When he came upon a stage that fit the props, he called on his muses and created a visual story on the spur of a moment. The collection of black and white images conveys a sense of effervescence and Élan. It includes photographs from Burris' time in Los Angeles as well as earlier experimental work in Milan and New York City. Anything but superficial, the invitational image, "Paget #1" challenges the traditional symmetry of beauty. We see a dramatic close up of a woman’s face, her intense eyes framed by the stark contrast between her porcelain skin and jet black hair. The lighting is such that her face is divided by shadow, one half dark and mysterious, the other half light and classically beautiful. The effect is deeply engaging. The viewer doesn’t know when the photo was taken but you want to know more. In “Mercer Street...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Who - Pete Townshend 1979 -Limited Estate Edition Oversize
By Michael Putland
Located in London, GB
Pete Townshend of the Who Madison Square Garden New York 1979 Large Oversize limited Estate edition (ed size 15 only this size) silver gelatin print. numbered and signed by the Estate on reverse stamped with blond embossed Archive stamp on front paper size 40x30" inches / 101 x 76 cm Certificate of authenticity supplied. unframed Framing available on request Ships securely from London England OTHER SIZES AVAILABLE pls enquire About Michael Putland the photographer : Born in 1947, Michael grew up in Harrow where he took his first pictures at the age of nine before leaving school at sixteen to work as an assistant to various photographers including Time-Life photographer, Walter Curtain and the legendary motor racing photographer, Louis Klemantaski. In 1969 he set up his own studio and by 1971, he was the official photographer for the British music magazine Disc & Music Echo. His first assignment for them that year was to photograph Mick Jagger in London. From the editorial work for Disc and Music Echo, Sounds and later Smash Hits & Q magazine amongst others, to the 1973 tour with The Rolling Stones that led to a long-standing relationship working with the band, Michael has shot prodigiously including for major record labels including CBS, Warner, Elektra, Polydor, Columbia Records and EMI. Relocating to New York in 1977, it was here that Michael founded the photo agency, Retna. It has been said that Michael photographed everyone from Abba to Zappa … when looking at his archive this is actually true. Now living in East Sussex, recent 2016 exhibitions include “Off The Record” at The Lucy Bell Gallery in Hastings showing images both on and off stage including previously unseen contact sheets; whilst Ono Arte in Bologna, Italy is hosting a David Bowie show. Autumn 2014 saw Michael’s 50 year retrospective at the Getty Gallery in London: “A life in Music, 50 Years On The Road”. Snap Gallery in London’s Piccadilly Arcade regularly have a selection of Michael’s work on show. Michael continues to shoot the artists he most admires – likely to be jazz, classical and world musicians, who have always provided an alternative narrative to his rock music portfolio. “It has been a fantastic ride through an incredible period of music history, which combined my two great loves … music and photography. Little did I appreciate, when my Uncle Alan encouraged my photography back in the 1950s, that this would lead me to photographing nearly all of my heroes … and thrilled to be still finding new ones. A great never ending journey.” Michael Putland About The Who : Few rock & roll bands were riddled with as many contradictions as the Who. All four members had wildly different personalities, as their notorious live performances demonstrated: Keith Moon fell over his drum kit while Pete Townshend leaped into the air with his guitar, spinning his right hand in exaggerated windmills. Vocalist Roger Daltrey prowled the stage as bassist John...
Category

1970s Modern Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Flipping Boy, 4th Ward, Houston, TX by Earlie Hudnall, Jr., 1983
By Earlie Hudnall Jr.
Located in Denton, TX
Flipping Boy, 4th Ward, Houston, TX by Earlie Hudnall, Jr. is a 14 x 11 inch silver gelatin print. This photograph features a boy flipping in the street, with people watching from the sidewalk and the skyline of Houston in the background. This photograph is signed, titled, and dated in pencil on print verso by Earlie Hudnall, Jr. Earlie Hudnall, who is one of the most notable African American...
Category

1980s Contemporary Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

1930s Photograph of Ansel Adams and Ed Towler
By Wilson D. Ellis
Located in Soquel, CA
Ansel Adams and Ed Towler by Wilson D. Ellis (American, 20th Century). Titled "Ansel and Ed Towler 1936" on verso and signed "Wilson D Ellis" with date 7/16/35 under mat. Silver Brom...
Category

1930s American Realist Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Female Nude, Kate Resting, Contemporary Portrait Photography by Leonard Freed
By Leonard Freed
Located in New york, NY
This is a black and white contemporary portrait photograph of a female nude by Leonard Freed, Kate Resting, is in the photographer's series "Kate". A 20" x 16" gelatin silver photograph signed verso (back of photo) by the Freed estate (provenance). The self-assigned photo series on Kate became a welcome reprieve for Leonard Freed who during a long photo...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper

Monsieur - Madame Paulhan Fly a Farman Airship 1910 Los Angeles Int. Air Show
By Roy Christian
Located in Soquel, CA
Reprint of a vintage photograph titled "Monsieur (Louis) and Madame Paulhan of France ready to fly a Farman model lll in Los Angeles - 1910 from an original photograph by an unknown ...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Vintage photograph -- Boys and Crib, Teenage Mothers in Texas
By Jocelyn Lee
Located in Soquel, CA
Boys and Crib one of a series of photographs done during the 1990-1996 period photographing teenage mothers in Texas. Acid free mat and new plexiglass. Image, 14"W x 17.5"L. Black wood frame.Jocelyn Lee was born in Naples Italy, and received her BA in philosophy and visual arts from Yale University, and her MFA in photography from Hunter College. In 2001 she received a Guggenheim Fellowship. In 1996 her work, The Youngest Parents, was published by DoubleTake Books and The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University in collaboration with Robert Coles and John Moses. She has exhibited nationally, most recently in an exhibition entitled “Feature Photography” at The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, 2008; The Pace MacGill Gallery in NY, 2007 (Solo)/2005; The DeCordova Museum in Waltham, Mass 2007; The Center for Maine Contemporary Art 2007 (Solo); The University of Maine Museum of Art, 2006 (Solo); Stone Hill...
Category

1990s American Realist Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper

Vintage photograph -- Boys and Crib, Teenage Mothers in Texas
Vintage photograph -- Boys and Crib, Teenage Mothers in Texas
$1,720 Sale Price
20% Off
H 21 in W 24.38 in D 1.57 in
Slim Aarons Estate Print - Dali And Gala 1955 - Oversize
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Dali And Gala Spanish artist Salvador Dali (1904 – 1989) enjoying a cup of coffee with his wife Gala (1894 – 1982) on a terrace at the Ritz Hotel, Madrid. Paper size 20 x 20" inch...
Category

1950s Modern Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Black and White, Silver Gelatin

'Luxury Dining' 1955 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
'Luxury Dining' Diners in a grand ballroom during a fashion show, circa 1955. 30x30 inches / 76 x 76 cm paper size Estate Stamped Collection Edition to 150 Photo by Slim Aar...
Category

1950s Modern Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Black and White, Silver Gelatin

Slim Aarons Official Estate Edition - Saks Fifth Avenue
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
A young woman modelling an outfit for a Saks Fifth Avenue catalog shoot, circa 1955. 30 x 30" inches / 76 x 76 cm paper size Estate Stamped Collection Edition to 150 Photo by ...
Category

1950s Modern Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Black and White, Silver Gelatin

'Dinner Jazz' 1949 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
'Dinner Jazz' 1949: American Jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong (1898 – 1971) enjoys a plate of spaghetti in Rome. 30x30 inches / 76 x 76 cm paper size Estate Stamped Co...
Category

1940s Modern Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Black and White

Kings Of Hollywood Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Kings Of Hollywood Clark Gable (1901 – 1960), Van Heflin (1910 – 1971), Gary Cooper (1901 – 1961) and James Stewart (1908 – 1997) enjoying a joke at a New Year’s party held at Roma...
Category

1950s Modern Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Black and White, Silver Gelatin

Previously Available Items
Stephanie Seymour, Los Angeles 1989, Herb Ritts
By Herb Ritts
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Herb Ritts (1952-2002) Title: ​Stephanie Seymour, Los Angeles 1989 Year: 1989 Medium: ​Gelatin Silver Print Edition: 3, plus proofs Size: 14 ...
Category

1980s Pop Art Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Male Nude with Tumbleweed, Paradise Cove
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Sepia-toned gelatin silver print with matte finish Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed in pencil, verso This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Category

1980s Other Art Style Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Fred – Backview with Chain, Hollywood
By Herb Ritts
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print with glossy finish (Edition of 25) Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, verso Also blindstamped, l.r. From the Body Shop Ser...
Category

1980s Other Art Style Herb Ritts Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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.

Recently Viewed

View All