A while back, Richard Avedon had a confession to make. “I hate cameras,” said the man who revolutionized fashion and portrait photography. “If I could only work with my eyes alone!”
Yet Avedon’s photos seem to do just that — they remove the distance the camera lens creates to make you feel that you are right there beside his subjects.
Born in New York City in 1923, Avedon had a stern father, an artistic mother and a beautiful, but troubled, sister. At 18, he wanted to be a poet. And the slight, 5’7” dreamer didn’t lack confidence — or a sense of drama. “I know my drifting will not prove a loss / For mine is a rolling stone that has gathered moss,” he wrote in 1941.
A year later, Avedon joined the Merchant Marines, where he spent his World War II years shooting ID photos of new recruits. “I must have taken pictures of 100,000 faces before it occurred to me I was becoming a photographer,” he later recalled.
After demobilization in 1944, Avedon shot fashion pictures for the tony Manhattan department store Bonwit Teller and studied with Alexey Brodovitch, the legendary art director of Harper’s Bazaar. By 1945, his work was appearing in Junior Bazaar.
“His first photographs for us were technically very bad,” Brodovitch later recalled. “But they were not snapshots. . . . Those first pictures of his had freshness and individuality, and they showed enthusiasm and a willingness to take chances.”
Who else was willing to take chances? Brodovitch and Carmel Snow, editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, who soon sent the young talent to fashion’s sacred capital, Paris.
The postwar years were hard in Paris. When Avedon first arrived there, in 1946, it was with an explicit directive from Snow. “Dick was tasked with this idea that he was there to rebuild Paris,” explains Martin. In restoring the energy and excitement around Paris, Avedon imbued it with some of his own.
Avedon’s models jumped, twirled, leapt over puddles and they smiled. Like Avedon himself, they rarely stood still. While he wasn’t the first to use action in fashion photography (in the 1930s, Martin Munkacsi and Toni Frissell began creating fashion images of women engaged in sporty scenarios), Avedon was the first to pair such vitality with women wearing couture.
Character and spirit became la mode. Dovima’s graceful silhouette juxtaposed against the wrinkled heft of two shackled elephants. Dorian Leigh laughing and embracing a bicycle racer. Suzy Parker roller skating across the Place de la Concorde. Sunny Harnett and her cool gaze just daring the roulette table — and every man in the room — not to do her bidding. There was always a narrative in an Avedon mise en scène — whether the background was elaborately staged or stark, the model’s job had forever changed from posing, to acting.
Of course, Avedon did not limit himself to fashion photography. The little boy who once collected autographs grew up to create the most iconic portraits of the 20th century, many of these were included in an exhibition at Guild Hall Museum in East Hampton, New York, in 2017.
A 1958 New Yorker profile noted that even though Avedon’s portraits immortalized cultural elites such as Truman Capote, Elsa Maxwell and Charles Laughton, the qualities that most interested the photographer were “advanced age, physical debility, ugliness, or the pathos underlying the surface insouciance.” Yet “none of Avedon’s subjects seem to resent this kind of treatment . . . being selected to sit for one of his Harper’s Bazaar portraits ranks as an accolade.”
Over the next 40-plus years of his career, his iconic portraiture never lost its force; although at times, his unvarnished truth felt cruel.
But Avedon was a creator, not an observer, and he made no apologies for this. The sitter and the photographer “have separate ambitions for the image,” he wrote in 1985. “His need to plead his case probably goes as deep as my need to plead mine, but the control is with me.”
Find original Richard Avedon photography on 1stDibs.
The Beatles Portfolio - Offset and Lithograph by Richard Avedon - 1967
By Richard Avedon
Located in Roma, IT
A complete portfolio of four individual psychedelic portraits of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, accompanied by the composite poster uniting all four i...
Lithograph, Offset
Richard Avedon Original 1967 poster featuring John Lennon - The Beatles
By Richard Avedon
Located in PARIS, FR
Original 1967 poster featuring John Lennon, one of the iconic members of The Beatles, immortalized by the legendary photographer Richard Avedon, is a timel...
Paper
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Richard Avedon signed Marlborough Gallery Exhibition Poster
By Richard Avedon
Located in Senoia, GA
This is the famous poster for the pivotal first major exhibition of master photographer Richard Avedon’s work at a commercial New York art gallery, the Marlborough Gallery. This post...
Lithograph
$1,176
Richard Avedon Original 1967 poster featuring Paul McCartney - The Beatles
By Richard Avedon
Located in PARIS, FR
The original 1967 poster featuring Paul McCartney, a luminary member of The Beatles, captured by the legendary photographer Richard Avedon, stands as a sig...
Paper
Richard Avedon Original 1967 poster featuring Ringo Starr - The Beatles
By Richard Avedon
Located in PARIS, FR
The original 1967 poster featuring Ringo Starr, one of the legendary members of The Beatles, captured by the renowned photographer Richard Avedon, stands as an iconic piece of pop cu...
Paper
$2,200
H 40 in W 32 in
Topiary III - large format photograph of ornamental shaped tree in urban setting
By Frank Schott
Located in San Francisco, CA
From a series of photographic observances capturing the antics of urban gardening and striking art of topiaries' green minimalism TOPIARY III by Frank Schott 40 x 32 inches (102 x...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment
$4,600
H 48 in W 67 in
YES - large format photograph of conceptual motivational message sign at night
By Frank Schott
Located in San Francisco, CA
large scale original photograph from a series of conceptual motivational messages on iconic Americana signs in landscape of the American West YES by Frank Schott 48 x 67 inches (122 x 171cm) signed edition of 7 29 x 40 inches (74 x 102cm) signed edition of 25 archival quality fine art pigment print limited art edition published by Edition EKTAlux artist signed + numbered certificate of authenticity _______________ Frank Schott grew up in Germany and attended the prestigious Academy of Arts in Cologne, studying under Professor Arno Jansen, who was an early influence. Moving to California in 1998, Schott's work has evolved to include the epic landscapes and deserts of the American West as well as architectural, conceptual and more formal environments from both home and his travels. Influenced by a number of photographic peers and precursors such as Candida Höfer, Andreas Gursky, Thomas Struth, Jeff Wall, Ed Rusha...
Giclée, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment
Plastic Taste
By Niko Christian
Located in New York, NY
ABOUT THIS ARTIST: Niko (aka c-nik) is a multidisciplinary artist, currently based on a pixel in a city that never sleeps, quietly working to create peace from chaos in surreal arcs ...
Photographic Paper
"Barnabas' Voyage State 2" Abstract
By Michael Gallagher
Located in Soquel, CA
Stunning, vivid non-objective abstract screen print titled "Barnabas' Voyage State 2" by Michael Gallagher (American, b. 1945). Signed and numbered lower left corner. Ink on paper using unique bleed screening process. #10/20. Unframed. Size 49"H x 37"W. Shipped in tube. Born 1945 in Los Angeles, California. In 1965 Gallagher attended UCLA and studied painting and drawing with David Hockney, Alfred Leslie, Jan Stussy, Sam Amato & Richard Diebenkorn. Michael has studied painting with Edgar Ewing and Keith Crown...
Ink, Paper
$40,000
H 18 in W 18.5 in
H.O. Miethke Das Werk folio "Water Snakes II" collotype print
By Gustav Klimt & K.K. Hof-und Staatsdruckerei
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Water Snakes II, no. 9 from the fourth installment of Das Werk Gustav Klimts The last painting Klimt exhibited with the Secession before resigning, Water ...
Paper
$28,500
H 35 in W 23 in
Marc Chagall, Clown avec Chèvre Jaune, lithograph, hand signed
By Marc Chagall
Located in Chatsworth, CA
Marc Chagall Clown a la chevre jaune, 1982 Original lithograph in colors on Arches paper Hand signed in pencil and numbered 43/50 from the edition of 50 Dimensions: 35 x 23 inches Fr...
Lithograph
$1,700
H 40.75 in W 28 in D 1.5 in
Abandon It All - Contemporary Abstract Geology Encaustic Monotype, 2025
By Laura Moriarty
Located in Kent, CT
In this contemporary encaustic monotype, layers of pigmented beeswax on lightweight kozo paper create an undulating composition suggesting layers of the earth's crust and geological ...
Encaustic, Archival Paper, Monotype
$325
H 10 in W 7.325 in
Untitled Composition (Poligrafa, Mexican, Modern, Latin America)
By Rufino Tamayo
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rufino Tamayo Untitled Composition from "Ediciones Poligrafa, Barcelona at Redfern Gallery, London" Original Color Lithograph Year: 1979 Edition: 1000 Size: 10 x 7.325 inches (25.4 × 18.61 cm) Unsigned and not individually numbered Publisher: La Poligrafa S.A., Barcelona, Spain Printer: La Poligrafa S.A., Barcelona, Spain Copy of the Imprint Page with Edition Number included Gallery-issued COA provided upon request *Could come framed in a simple white/black/natural frame made from composite wood with standard plex for an additional $48. See example images. Please inquire. Rufino Tamayo was among the internationally recognized artists featured in the Ediciones Polígrafa exhibition at the Redfern Gallery, London, held from December 4, 1979 to January 31, 1980. Organized in collaboration with the Barcelona-based publisher Polígrafa, the exhibition highlighted a broad spectrum of modern printmaking, bringing together leading figures whose graphic works expanded the boundaries of contemporary art. Tamayo’s contribution reflects his distinctive synthesis of Mexican cultural identity with international modernist language. Unlike many of his contemporaries in Mexican muralism, Tamayo favored a more universal and poetic visual vocabulary over overt political narrative. His prints—often executed as lithographs—are characterized by bold chromatic contrasts, textured surfaces, and simplified, almost cosmic figuration. Themes such as humanity, mythology, celestial bodies, and existential reflection recur throughout his work, conveyed through a restrained yet powerful formal language. Within the context of the Polígrafa exhibition, Tamayo’s prints underscored the global dialogue between tradition and modernity, situating his work alongside that of artists such as Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, and Eduardo Chillida. His inclusion reaffirmed his position as one of the most significant Latin American artists of the 20th century and a key figure in the evolution of modern printmaking. Rufino Tamayo lithograph...
Lithograph
$525
H 14 in W 11 in
Raymond Pettibon 1980s illustration art (early Raymond Pettibon)
By Raymond Pettibon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Raymond Pettibon, "No Mag,'" 1981: A rare late 70's/early 80's Los Angeles Punk scene publication featuring several stand out illustrations by Raymond Pettibon ...
Paper, Offset
Night's Rest
Located in PARIS, FR
Night's Rest by Alfons MUCHA (1860-1939) from the series "The Times of the Day" Original lithograph Signed "Mucha" and dated "99" for 1899, at the lower part of the plate. France 1...
Paper
$703
H 14 in W 20 in D 1 in
Iqbal Series, Serigraph on Paper by Modern Artist M.F. Husain "In Stock"
By M.F. Husain
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
M.F. Husain - Iqbal Series - 14 x 20 inches (unframed size) Serigraph on Paper , 2011 ( Unframed & Delivered ) MF Husain , world acclaimed artist has been famous for various of his ...
Paper
The Bouquet of Tulips - Original Lithograph Signed
By Yves Ganne
Located in Paris, IDF
Yves GANNE (1931-2019) The Bouquet of Tulips Original Lithograph Signed on pencil Numbered of 140 copies On vellum Arches 76 x 54 cm (c. 29.92 x 21.25 in) Very good condition, mino...
Lithograph
Sold
H 26.78 in W 18.51 in
Richard Avedon Original 1967 poster featuring George Harrison The Beatles
By Richard Avedon
Located in PARIS, FR
Original 1967 poster featuring George Harrison, an iconic member of The Beatles, immortalized by the visionary photographer Richard Avedon, stands as a rem...
Paper
Sold
H 24.02 in W 35.44 in
hand-signed 1981 poster of Richard Avedon Nastassja Kinski and the serpent
By Richard Avedon
Located in PARIS, FR
In the world of photography and fashion, Richard Avedon remains an iconic figure whose work continues to inspire and captivate audiences. One of his most celebrated pieces, this hand...
Linen, Paper
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H 40 in W 25 in
Richard Avedon Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War (Vietnam protest poster)
By Richard Avedon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Richard Avedon, "Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War?," Vintage original protest poster, 1969 A famous 1969 Richard Avedon illustrated poster against the Vietnam War. Avedon's picture depicts a handsome soldier wearing a formal US Army uniform colored bright red (symbolic for blood). The soldier is seen holding a white dove, over the caption, 'Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War?' Commissioned by The Student Mobilization Committee, the poster became a effective anti-war rallying device of the late 1960s. Off-set lithograph in colors 25 x 40 inches Some signs of minor handling; otherwise very good Plate signed on lower left Collections Whitney Museum of American Art - Daniel Wolf Collection of Protest Posters Richard Avedon’s dynamic, stylized portraits helped bridge the worlds of fashion and fine art photography. Avedon captured his staged subjects on black-and-white film, sometimes in motion. He turned his probing, intimate gaze on both everyday civilians and cultural icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Malcolm X. Avedon served as a photographer in the military before working as both a freelancer and staff photographer for publications including Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, The New Yorker, Life, and others. While he is widely known for his commercial and editorial practices, Avedon also exhibited widely in cities including New York, Paris, and London. Throughout his lifetime, he published a number of books of collected photography. On the secondary market, Avedon’s work has sold in excess of $1 million. Related Categories Richard Avedon Beatles.
Lithograph, Offset
1993 Richard Avedon 'An Autobiography' Book
By Richard Avedon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paper Size: 14.25 x 11.5 inches ( 36.195 x 29.21 cm ) Image Size: 14.25 x 11.5 inches ( 36.195 x 29.21 cm ) Framed: NoCondition: A-: Near Mint, very light signs of handling Addition...
Offset
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H 24.5 in W 35.75 in
Richard Avedon-Nastassja Kinski and the Serpent-24.5" x 35.75"-Poster-1981
By Richard Avedon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This photograph is of Natassja Kinski, the German-born model and actress. Kinski gained acclaim both through her active acting career, as well as through her relationship with Roman ...
Offset
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H 40 in W 25 in
Richard Avedon Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War (Vietnam protest poster)
By Richard Avedon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Richard Avedon, "Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War?," Vintage original protest poster, 1969 A famous 1969 Richard Avedon illustrated poster against the Vietnam War. Avedon's picture depicts a handsome soldier wearing a formal US Army uniform colored bright red (symbolic for blood). The soldier is seen holding a white dove, over the caption, 'Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War?' Commissioned by The Student Mobilization Committee, the poster became a effective anti-war rallying device of the late 1960s. Off-set lithograph in colors 25 x 40 inches Some signs of minor handling; otherwise very good Plate signed on lower left Collections Whitney Museum of American Art - Daniel Wolf Collection of Protest Posters Related Categories Richard Avedon Beatles.
Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 40 in W 25 in D 0.1 in
Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War (vintage Vietnam protest poster)
By Richard Avedon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Richard Avedon, "Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War?," Vintage original protest poster, 1969 A famous 1969 Richard Avedon illustrated poster against the Vietnam War. Avedon's picture depicts a handsome soldier wearing a formal US Army uniform...
Offset
Sold
H 40 in W 25 in
Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War (vintage Vietnam protest poster)
By Richard Avedon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Richard Avedon, "Who Has a Better Right to Oppose the War?," Vintage original protest poster, 1969 A famous 1969 Richard Avedon illustrated poster against the Vietnam War. Avedon's ...
Lithograph