Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Latvian, 1906-1979

Philippe Halsman’s deep interest in the human face informed a celebrated and decades-spanning career in portrait photography. Shot in black and white, his portrait photographs feature celebrities, artists, politicians and intellectuals. The iconic photographs appeared on the covers of some of the biggest magazines, including Life, Look, Esquire and Paris Match.

Halsman was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1906. When he was 15 years old, he discovered a camera in the attic. He fell in love with taking pictures and spent most of his allowance on his new hobby. He later studied engineering, but left school before earning his degree and moved to Paris to pursue photography.

In the 1930s, Halsman lived in Montparnasse, the artistic center of Paris. He caught his first big break when he approached French writer André Gide to take his portrait. After that, many more writers and actors requested photographs, and Halsman began shooting for Vogue, Viola and Vu.

When World War II broke out, Halsman sent his pregnant wife and daughter to the United States. He could not go with them due to his Latvian passport. As luck would have it, he was pen pals with famed physicist Albert Einstein, who intervened and ensured that Halsman was granted a visa. He arrived in New York City in 1940.

In America, Halsman had to start from scratch. A turning point was when beauty tycoon Elizabeth Arden used one of his photographs to advertise her Victory Red lipstick. In the early 1940s, Halsman met artist Salvador Dalí, and the two became friends and partners. One of their most notable collaborations was the 1948 photograph Dalí Atomicus, which shows Dalí, his cats, canvas, furniture and water floating in the air.

Throughout the rest of his career, Halsman was a prolific contributor to Life magazine and his photographs were on the cover 101 times. In 1958, Popular Photography named him one of the “World’s Ten Greatest Photographers”.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Philippe Halsman’s photography.

Artist: Philippe Halsman

Philippe HalsmanPhillipe Halsman Portrait Photography Lauren Bacall Black and White Framed 1944, 1944

$5,000Sale Price|41% Off

Phillipe Halsman Portrait Photography Lauren Bacall Black and White Framed 1944

By Philippe Halsman

Located in Buffalo, NY

The work offered for sale here is an original vintage silver gelatin print hand created by Halsman in 1944 and exhibited at the International Center for Photography. Philippe Halsman was at one point considered the best photo-portraitist in France. He had an incessant interest in faces: “Every face I see seems to hide—and sometimes fleetingly reveal—the mystery of another human being.” Halsman’s photographs of politicians, celebrities, and intellectuals were featured widely in magazines like LIFE and Vogue. His more famous subjects included the likes of Marc Chagall, Le Corbusier, Audrey Hepburn, and Albert Einstein. He also had a 37-year collaboration with Salvador Dalí, which resulted in several famous surrealist series including the “Dalí’s Mustache” portraits...

Category

1940s Modern Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin, Wood

Philippe HalsmanAnna Magnani - Photograph by Philippe Halsman - 1951, 1951

$2,840

Anna Magnani - Photograph by Philippe Halsman - 1951

By Philippe Halsman

Located in Roma, IT

Vintage b/w photograph realized by Philippe Halsman in 1951. Copyright: Magnum Photos and Agenzia Contrasto. Excellent condition.

Category

1950s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Leonard FreedPolicewoman Playing Tag, New York City, Gelatin Silver Photograph, 16x20, Signed, 1978

$3,500

H 16 in W 20 in

Policewoman Playing Tag, New York City, Gelatin Silver Photograph, 16x20, Signed

By Leonard Freed

Located in New york, NY

Policewoman Playing Tag, New York City, 1978 by Leonard Freed, is a 16” x 20” gelatin silver photograph from the photographer's Police Work series and book. The photograph from the estate is stamped verso (back of photo) and signed by Brigitte Freed (widow). A black and white modern photograph...

Category

1970s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Photographic Film, Silver Gelatin

Chris SmithSparring - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, Ali, boxing, black and white, 20x30 in

$4,112

H 20 in W 30 in

Sparring - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, Ali, boxing, black and white, 20x30 in

Located in London, GB

Chris Smith (b.1937) Sparring silver gelatin fibre based print 20 x 30 in. / 34.5 x 48 in. / 46 x 66 in. signed and numbered printed later This work is available in the following si...

Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Leonard FreedHandcuffed, New York, 1978 Black and White Iconic Photograph, Signed, 14x11, 1978

$3,500

H 14 in W 11 in

Handcuffed, New York, 1978 Black and White Iconic Photograph, Signed, 14x11

By Leonard Freed

Located in New york, NY

For several years in the 1970s Leonard Freed worked alongside members of the New York police department, documenting the gritty reality of life on the beat...

Category

1970s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Leonard FreedSouthern State, 1964, Civil Rights, Gelatin Silver Photograph, Signed, 11x14, 1963

$2,400

H 11 in W 14 in

Southern State, 1964, Civil Rights, Gelatin Silver Photograph, Signed, 11x14

By Leonard Freed

Located in New york, NY

The photograph Southern State, 1964 by Leonard Freed captures the American South of the 1960s. An 11” x 14” gelatin silver photograph from the photographer's Black in White America s...

Category

1960s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Leonard FreedKate Standing, Signed Vintage Gelatin Silver Print, 14x11, 2002, Female Nude, 2002

$3,500

H 14 in W 11 in

Kate Standing, Signed Vintage Gelatin Silver Print, 14x11, 2002, Female Nude

By Leonard Freed

Located in New york, NY

Leonard Freed's stamped vintage (verso), 14" x 11," gelatin silver signed and hand-printed by Freed, Kate Standing, is from the Kate series, 2002. A photographer herself, model Kat...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Burt GlinnStripper, Crazy Horse Saloon, Paris, France, 1956, Gelatin Silver Print, 8x10, 1956

$1,700

H 8 in W 10 in

Stripper, Crazy Horse Saloon, Paris, France, 1956, Gelatin Silver Print, 8x10

By Burt Glinn

Located in New york, NY

American photographer Burt Glinn's Stripper, Crazy Horse Saloon, Paris, 1956, is an 8" x 10" gelatin silver print, with notations and the photographer's magnum stamp on verso (back o...

Category

1950s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Leonard FreedCity Prison, New Orleans, Vintage Gelatin Silver Photo, Signed, Civil Rights 60s, 1965

$6,000

H 12 in W 16 in

City Prison, New Orleans, Vintage Gelatin Silver Photo, Signed, Civil Rights 60s

By Leonard Freed

Located in New york, NY

City Prison, New Orleans, 1965 by American photographer Leonard Freed is a vintage gelatin silver print, signed verso (back of photo) by the photographer. It is an iconic image in th...

Category

1960s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper

Willy RonisDeena's back - Willy Ronis, 20th Century, French Humanist Photography, 1955

$5,918

H 15.75 in W 11.82 in

Deena's back - Willy Ronis, 20th Century, French Humanist Photography

By Willy Ronis

Located in Paris, FR

One of the most famous members of the Humanist photography in France. Signed lower right by the artist. Stamp of the artist's studio on the back.

Category

1950s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Willy RonisAvenue Simon Bolivar - Willy Ronis, 20th Century, French Humanist Photography, 1953

$5,799

H 15.75 in W 11.82 in

Avenue Simon Bolivar - Willy Ronis, 20th Century, French Humanist Photography

By Willy Ronis

Located in Paris, FR

One of the famous members of the Humanist photography in France. Signed lower right by the artist. Stamp of the artist's studio on the back.

Category

1950s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Leonard FreedKate Resting, Black and White Gelatin Silver Photograph, Signed, 20x16 Nude, 2002

$2,700

H 20 in W 16 in

Kate Resting, Black and White Gelatin Silver Photograph, Signed, 20x16 Nude

By Leonard Freed

Located in New york, NY

Black and white contemporary portrait photography 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. The self-assigned female nude photo series on Kate became a welcome reprieve for Leonard Freed who during a long photo...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper

Portrait of a Woman with Teapot, 1970s Pittsburgh Black & White Photograph, 1974

$850

H 20 in W 15 in D 0.13 in

Portrait of a Woman with Teapot, 1970s Pittsburgh Black & White Photograph

Located in Soquel, CA

Compelling 1970s black and white photograph of a contemplative woman leaning on a table into her crossed arms, beside a small teapot that casts a long sha...

Category

1970s Realist Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Willy RonisRue Muller Willy Ronis Twentieth Century Humanist photography Paris black white, 1934

$4,616

H 15.91 in W 12.05 in

Rue Muller Willy Ronis Twentieth Century Humanist photography Paris black white

By Willy Ronis

Located in Paris, FR

One of the most famous members of the Humanist photography in France. Signed lower right by the artist. Stamp of the artist's studio on the back.

Category

1930s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Previously Available Items

Philippe Halsmanuntitled (fashion photograph of two women), c. 1950

Sold

H 14 in W 11 in

untitled (fashion photograph of two women)

By Philippe Halsman

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Unknown Portrait of Two Women Silver Gallatine print, c. 1950's Signed with the photographers stamp verso Appears to be a Life cover illustration, but I can find no documentation. Ex...

Category

1950s Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Philippe Halsman figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Philippe Halsman figurative photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Philippe Halsman in paper, photographic paper, silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1940s and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Philippe Halsman figurative photography, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Mark Shaw, Gleb Derujinsky, and Bob Gruen. Philippe Halsman figurative photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $5,000 and tops out at $5,000, while the average work can sell for $5,000.