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.
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.
Photographic Paper
$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...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin, Wood
$2,103
H 20 in W 24 in D 0.1 in
Lobster Girl, Fright Nights, West Palm Beach - Horror Show Florida Photography
By Rachel Louise Brown
Located in Brighton, GB
"Lobster Girl. Fright Nights, West Palm Beach. 2017" is a Dye Sublimation Print on Aluminium. This print is available from an Edition of 10 + 2 Artis...
Dye, Photographic Paper, Color, Dye Transfer
$4,045
H 20 in W 30 in
Sparring - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, Ali, boxing, black and white, 20x30 in
By Chris Smith
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...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$5,722
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.
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$1,500
H 8 in W 10 in
Italy, Beach, Black and White Photography 1980s by Leonard Freed
By Leonard Freed
Located in New york, NY
Beach, Italy, 1984 by Leonard Freed is an 8" x 10" black and white photograph, a gelatin silver RC press print from the Freed archive, signed verso (on back of photograph) by the photographer. Provenance: Freed Estate Leonard Freed discovered Little Italy in New York...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$950
H 10 in W 10 in
Digital Manipulation Photography by Brooke Shaden, Fingernails Stained w/ Mud
By Brooke Shaden
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
BROOKE SHADEN "Fingernails Stained with Mud" 2024 Photo on Velvet Fine Art Paper, ed of 15 10 x 10 inches (Unframed) Channeling the light and darkness inherent in humanity through h...
Photographic Paper
$4,578
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.
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$5,608
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.
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$3,777
H 16 in W 20 in
Stripper, Crazy Horse Saloon, Paris, 1956, Gelatin Silver Print, Signed 16x20
By Burt Glinn
Located in New york, NY
American photographer Burt Glinn's Stripper, Crazy Horse Saloon, Paris, 1956, is a 16" x 20" gelatin silver print, signed and authenticated by the Glinn estate. The photo offers an...
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
$4,441
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.
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$2,600
H 20 in W 20 in
Figurative_Self Portrait_Manipulated Photography_Brooke Shaden, Surging Tides
By Brooke Shaden
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
BROOKE SHADEN "Surging Tides" 2024 Photo on Velvet Fine Art Paper, Ed. of 10 20 x 20 inches, Unframed Channeling the light and darkness inherent in humanity through her self-portrai...
Photographic Paper
$1,850
H 16 in W 20 in
Quechuan Girl by Zack Whitford - Contemporary Portrait Photography
By Zack Whitford
Located in Chicago, IL
Limited edition Archival Pigment Print on Archival Canson Platine Fibre Rag paper. Signed and numbered by the artist. Edition size: 25 16" x 20" Print Please inquire about fra...
Photographic Paper
$12,946
H 46 in W 66 in
Hard at the Gym - Chris Smith, Muhammad Ali, boxing, black and white, 46x66 in
By Chris Smith
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 ...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
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...
Silver Gelatin