Skip to main content

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.
(Biography provided by Serge Sorokko Gallery)
to
37
1
1
1
18
8
9
13
4
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
5
38
33
13
12
10
10
9
8
8
7
6
5
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
38
4
15
2
3
38
6,817
3,016
2,518
1,218
38
Artist: Lillian Bassman
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

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

It's a Cinch, Carmen, Lingerie by Warner's, New York
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin silver print Signed in pencil, verso 20 x 24 inches, sheet size This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Lillian Bassman was born in 1917 to an immig...
Category

1950s American Modern Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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

Barbara Mullen, New York. Harper's Bazaar, circa 1958
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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

Black - With One White Glove: Barbara Mullen, Dress by Christian Dior, New York
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
This photograph is an edition of 25 and is signed by the photographer.
Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

In Full Swing: Shalom Harlow in Jean Paul Gaultier, The NYT Magazine, 1998
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver Print 30x40 inches
Category

1990s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Well-Dressed Leg: Dorian Leigh, New York. Harper's Bazaar, 1948
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver Print 16x20 inches
Category

1940s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Thierry Mugler Dress, German VOGUE, 1998
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver Print 16x20 inches
Category

1990s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

New Look Corset: Christian Dior, Harper's Bazaar, 1950
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Gelatin Silver Print 16x20 inches
Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Tunic Suit, Sunny Hartnett, Harper's Bazaar, New York
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Suit by Charles James. Harper's Bazaar, New York, July 1955. All editions signed the photographer.
Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Across The Restaurant, Le Grand Vefour, Paris, Harper's Bazaar
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Model: Barbara Mullen. Dress by Jacques Fath. All editions are signed by the photographer.
Category

1940s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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

Barbara Mullen, Aboard Le Bateau Mouche, Chanel Campaign, Paris
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Availability is subject to change without notice. All editions signed by the photographer.
Category

1960s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Born to Dance, Margie Cato, Dress by Emily Wilkins, New York
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Availability is subject to change without notice. All editions signed by the photographer.
Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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

The Spotted Furs, Furred: Barbara Mullen in a coat by Traina-Norell, New York
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Lillian Bassman The Spotted Furs, Furred: Barbara Mullen in a coat by Traina-Norell, New York. Harper's Bazaar, 1954 Gelatin Silver Print image, 17 x 22...
Category

1950s American Realist Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Charles James Dress, Carmen, 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

Mid-20th Century Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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
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
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

Anne Saint-Marie, New York, Chanel Advertising Campaign
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

Adhesive, Silver Gelatin

More Fashion Mileage Per Dress, Barbara Vaughn, New York, Harper's Bazaar
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Dress by Filcol. All editions are signed by the photographer.
Category

1950s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Night Bloom, Anneliese Seubert, Paris, The New York Times Magazine
By Lillian Bassman
Located in New York, NY
Dress by John Galliano for Haute Couture Givenchy. All editions are signed by the photographer.
Category

1990s Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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

The Personal Touch, Evelyn Tripp, Harper's Bazaar
By Lillian Bassman
Located in Santa Monica, CA
signed and numbered in pencil on verso
Category

Mid-20th Century Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Fantasy on the Dance Floor, Barbara Mullen, Paris
By Lillian Bassman
Located in Santa Monica, CA
signed and numbered in pencil on verso
Category

Mid-20th Century Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

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

Touch of Dew, Lisa Fonssagrives, Harper's Bazaar
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

Dress by Thierry Mugler, German Vogue
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

Margie Cato, Test Shoot, New York
By Lillian Bassman
Located in Santa Monica, CA
signed and numbered in pencil on verso
Category

Mid-20th Century Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Charles James Dress, Carmen, New York, Harper's Bazaar
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

Paris Gala Night, Barbara Mullen in Dress by Patou, Paris, Harper's Bazaar
By Lillian Bassman
Located in Santa Monica, CA
signed and numbered in pencil on verso
Category

Mid-20th Century Lillian Bassman Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Betty Threat, New York, Harper's Bazaar
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, New York, Harper's Bazaar
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

Anne Saint-Marie, New York, Chanel Advertising Campaign
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, Essex House
By Lillian Bassman
Located in Santa Monica, CA
signed and numbered in pencil on verso
Category

Mid-20th Century 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.

Artists Similar to Lillian Bassman

Recently Viewed

View All