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Lillian Bassman Art

American, 1917-2012
Born 1917, Brooklyn, New York; died 2012, Manhattan, New York. Lillian Bassman became one of the most influential fashion photographers of the 1940s and 50s while working under the tutelage of the legendary art director Alexey Brodovitch at Harper’s Bazaar. Her sense of artistry and movement redefined fashion photography and gave sophistication to what had been a fairly staid medium. In the 1970s she abandoned commercial work but continued to practice photography for the rest of her life. Bassman developed a unique style through her high-contrast black and white images and her dark room techniques in which she would blur and bleach the images, giving them a mysterious, dreamlike quality. In the 1990s she was asked to photograph the Haute Couture collection for The New York Times Magazine, marking her return to fashion photography and the renewed commercial interest in her style. Her art has enjoyed a revival that has placed her squarely at the forefront of the history of fashion art photography. Bassman’s work is held in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and the Center for Photography, Woodstock, New York, among others.
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Black and White: Mary Jane Russell, Le Pavillion

Lillian BassmanBlack and White: Mary Jane Russell, Le Pavillion, 1961

$8,250

Black and White: Mary Jane Russell, Le Pavillion

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

Gelatin silver print Signed in pencil, verso 11 x 14 inches, sheet size 9.75 x 12.5 inches, image size This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Lillian Bassm...

Category

1950s American Modern Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Touch of Dew: Lisa Fonssagrives, New York

Lillian BassmanTouch of Dew: Lisa Fonssagrives, New York, 1961

$8,250

Touch of Dew: Lisa Fonssagrives, New York

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

Gelatin silver print Signed in pencil, verso 16 x 20 inches, sheet size 14 x 18.25 inches, image size This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Lillian Bassma...

Category

1960s American Modern Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Well-Dressed Leg: Dorian Leigh, New York

Lillian BassmanThe Well-Dressed Leg: Dorian Leigh, New York, 1948

$8,250

The Well-Dressed Leg: Dorian Leigh, New York

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

Gelatin silver print Signed in pencil, verso 14 x 11 inches, sheet size 11 x 10.25 inches, image size This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Lillian Bassma...

Category

1940s American Modern Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Next to Nothing, New York

Lillian BassmanNext to Nothing, New York, 1948

$15,000

Next to Nothing, New York

By Lillian Bassman

Located in Santa Monica, CA

signed and number in pencil on verso

Category

Mid-20th Century Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Barbara Mullen, Blowing Kiss, New York

Lillian BassmanBarbara Mullen, Blowing Kiss, New York, 1958

Price Upon Request

Barbara Mullen, Blowing Kiss, New York

By Lillian Bassman

Located in London, GB

Barbara Mullen, Blowing Kiss, New York Lillian Bassman Signed in ink and numbered in pencil on label affixed to reverse Silver gelatin print 40 x 30 inches From an edition of 25

Category

Mid-20th Century Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

It's a Cinch, Carmen, New York, Harper's Bazaar

Lillian BassmanIt's a Cinch, Carmen, New York, Harper's Bazaar, 1951

Price Upon Request

It's a Cinch, Carmen, New York, Harper's Bazaar

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

Lingerie by Warner's. Harper's Bazaar, September 1951. All editions signed by the photographer.

Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Harper's Bazaar, Barbara Mullen

Lillian BassmanHarper's Bazaar, Barbara Mullen, 1947

Price Upon Request

Harper's Bazaar, Barbara Mullen

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

Lillian Bassman Harper's Bazaar, Barbara Mullen, c. 1947 Vintage gelatin silver print image size: 13 x 10 1/2 inches frame size: 29 x 24 3/4 x 1 3/4...

Category

1940s Modern Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Mary Jane Russell, New York, Harper's Bazaar

Lillian BassmanMary Jane Russell, New York, Harper's Bazaar, 1950

Price Upon Request

Mary Jane Russell, New York, Harper's Bazaar

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

All editions are signed by the photographer. Availability is subject to change without notice.

Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Betty Threat, New York, Harper's Bazaar

Lillian BassmanBetty Threat, New York, Harper's Bazaar, c. 1957

Price Upon Request

Betty Threat, New York, Harper's Bazaar

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

All editions are signed by the photographer. Availability is subject to change without notice.

Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Wonders of Water, New York, Harper's Bazaar

Lillian BassmanWonders of Water, New York, Harper's Bazaar, 1959

Price Upon Request

Wonders of Water, New York, Harper's Bazaar

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

Model Unknown. All editions are signed by the photographer. Availability is subject to change without notice.

Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Barbara Mullen, Harper's Bazaar, New York

Lillian BassmanBarbara Mullen, Harper's Bazaar, New York, c. 1958

Price Upon Request

Barbara Mullen, Harper's Bazaar, New York

By Lillian Bassman

Located in New York, NY

All editions are signed by the photographer. Availability is subject to change without notice.

Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Lillian Bassman art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Lillian Bassman art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Lillian Bassman in silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Lillian Bassman art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Neal Slavin, John Albok, and Danny Lyon. Lillian Bassman art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $8,000 and tops out at $63,270, while the average work can sell for $9,500.

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