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

$2,886

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

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

$4,172

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

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

$5,894

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

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

$4,691

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

Willy RonisCarrefour Sèvres-Babylone Willy Ronis Twentieth Century Humanist photography art, 1948

$4,811

H 15.91 in W 12.05 in

Carrefour Sèvres-Babylone Willy Ronis Twentieth Century Humanist photography art

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

1940s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Chris SmithEverlast - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, Ali, black and white, boxing, 66x46 in

$11,681

H 66 in W 46 in

Everlast - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, Ali, black and white, boxing, 66x46 in

Located in London, GB

Chris Smith (b.1937) Everlast silver gelatin fibre based print 30 x 20 in. / 48 x 34.5 in. / 66 x 46 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

Chris SmithAli vs The Beatles - Chris Smith, black, white, muhammad ali, beatles, 20x30 in, 1964

$5,006

H 20 in W 30 in

Ali vs The Beatles - Chris Smith, black, white, muhammad ali, beatles, 20x30 in

Located in London, GB

Chris Smith (b.1937) Ali Versus The Beatles 1964 silver gelatin fibre based print 20 x 30 in. / 34.5 x 48 in. / 46 x 66 in. / 50 x 92 in. signed and numbered printed later This work...

Category

1960s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Chris SmithAli vs The Beatles - Chris Smith, black, white, muhammad ali, beatles, 34.5x48in, 1964

$13,350

H 34.5 in W 48 in

Ali vs The Beatles - Chris Smith, black, white, muhammad ali, beatles, 34.5x48in

Located in London, GB

Chris Smith (b.1937) Ali Versus The Beatles 1964 silver gelatin fibre based print 20 x 30 in. / 34.5 x 48 in. / 46 x 66 in. / 50 x 92 in. signed and numbered printed later This work...

Category

1960s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Tod PapagerogeUntitled from "On The Acropolis", 1983 - 1984

$7,500

H 24 in W 20 in

Untitled from "On The Acropolis"

Located in New York, NY

Listing includes free shipping in the US and a 14-day return policy. All prints are made to order and will arrive in mint condition directly from Tod Papageorge...

Category

1980s Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper

Chris SmithHard at the Gym - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, boxing, black and white, 34.5x48 in, 1971

$9,178

H 34.5 in W 48 in

Hard at the Gym - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, boxing, black and white, 34.5x48 in

Located in London, GB

Chris Smith (b.1937) Hard at the Gym 1971 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 ...

Category

1970s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Chris SmithAli Skipping - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, boxing, black & white, 46x66 in, 1971

$11,681

H 46 in W 66 in

Ali Skipping - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, boxing, black & white, 46x66 in

Located in London, GB

Chris Smith (b.1937) Ali Skipping 1971 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 fol...

Category

1970s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Trenity ThomasA Helping Hand, 2021

$1,825

H 30 in W 30 in

A Helping Hand

By Trenity Thomas

Located in New Orleans, LA

edition 1/5 TRENITY THOMAS is a self-taught photographer who has also experimented with painting and sketching since grade school. As a photographer, he has worked in a myriad of ge...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Christopher AndersonUntitled from "Pia", 2014 - Ongoing

$5,500

H 24 in W 20 in

Untitled from "Pia"

By Christopher Anderson

Located in New York, NY

Listing includes free shipping in the US and a 14-day return policy. All prints are made to order and will arrive in mint condition directly from Christopher Anderson...

Category

2010s Contemporary Philippe Halsman Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment, Digital P...

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.