Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
American, 1916-2006
American photographer Slim Aarons captured the 20th century’s international jet set — U.S. socialites, European royalty, Hollywood stars — at play in sun-kissed locales like Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Palm Beach, as well as other luxurious settings around the globe.
Committed to eschewing makeup and artificial lighting, Aarons created images that are at once candid and polished, combining the relaxed posture of his subjects, who trusted him to document their lives, with the visual sharpness of a seasoned art director. Having gotten his start taking pictures for the U.S. military magazine Yank during World War II, he contributed over the course of his career to Life, Town and Country and Holiday magazines and published several books.
Aarons was born in Manhattan in 1916. He joined the army at 18, shooting military maneuvers at West Point before serving as a combat photographer, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart. After the war, he moved to California and began snapping socialites and movie stars. In the 1950s, he opened a bureau for Life magazine in Rome, where he took pictures capturing the postwar scene. Aarons was always able to win the trust of his elite subjects, who saw him as close to a peer, rather than a paparazzo. In a 2002 interview with The Independent, he remarked, ''I knew everyone. They would invite me to one of their parties because they knew I wouldn't hurt them. I was one of them.'' This access allowed Aarons to document the rich and famous with their guard down, reading newspapers and magazines, talking on the phone, relaxing by the pool, and chatting with friends. The 1957 photograph The Kings of Hollywood, for example, which won him wide acclaim, shows Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart laughing together as they celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Many of Aarons’s best-known images involve games and sports. In the 1972 Poolside Backgammon, two young women play the board game of the title against the backdrop of a majestic Acapulco estate. In 1958’s Cannes Watersports, a couple attempts to glide across the Golfe de la Napoule on Jet Skis, one expertly and one hanging on for dear life. And in Penthouse Pool, shot in Athens in 1961, a young woman wearing a yellow bathing cap smiles coyly at the camera, surrounded by friends and brightly colored seat cushions, with the Acropolis faintly visible in the background. Among Aarons’s books are 1974’s A Wonderful Time: An Intimate Portrait of the Good Life, and its 2003 sequel, Once Upon a Time. His final book, A Place in the Sun, was published in 2005, one year before his death.
Find a collection of vintage Slim Aarons photography on 1stDibs.
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Period: 1960s
Artist: Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition), 1960
Chromogenic Lambda print
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black B...
Category
1960s American Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Digging for Clams (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition), 1960
Chromogenic Lambda print
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black B...
Category
1960s American Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Palm Bay Club Slim Aarons Estate Stamped Print
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Palm Bay Club
1965
by Slim Aarons
Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965
unframed
c type print
printed 2023
L...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Palm Bay Club 1965 Slim Aarons Estate Stamped Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Palm Bay Club
1965
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965.
Photo by Slim Aarons
40x60” / 101 x 152 cm - paper size
silver gelatin print
unframed
...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition), 1960
Chromogenic Lambda print
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black B...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward In Gustave Tassell
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward wearing a dinner dress by Gustave Tassell, Beverly Hills, 1960. The bodice is made of white silk faille and the skirt i...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Digital, Photogram, Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS
Palm Bay Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965
Slim Aarons
Palm Bay Club
Black and White Photography
Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Num...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Digital, Photogram, Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS
Digging for Clams (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition), 1960
Chromogenic Lambda print
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black B...
Category
1960s American Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Palm Bay Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965
Slim Aarons
Palm Bay Club
Black and White Photography
Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Num...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Palm Bay Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965
Slim Aarons
Palm Bay Club
Black and White Photography
Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Num...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward In Gustave Tassell
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward wearing a dinner dress by Gustave Tassell, Beverly Hills, 1960. The bodice is made of white silk faille and the skirt i...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward In Gustave Tassell
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward wearing a dinner dress by Gustave Tassell, Beverly Hills, 1960. The bodice is made of white silk faille and the skirt i...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital, Photogram, Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White
Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward In Gustave Tassell
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model Gretchen Van de Kamp Ward wearing a dinner dress by Gustave Tassell, Beverly Hills, 1960. The bodice is made of white silk faille and the skirt i...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Palm Bay Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965
Slim Aarons
Palm Bay Club
Black and White Photography
Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Num...
Category
1960s American Realist Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Slim Aarons Official Estate Print - Digging For Clams 1960 - Oversize
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Digging For Clams
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black Beach, Massachusetts Bay, circa 1960.
Silver gelatin print
Slim Aarons silver gelatin...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons 'Digging for Clams on Black Beach' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition), 1960 (printed later)
Chromogenic Lambda print
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low...
Category
1960s American Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Palm Bay Club' 1965 Official Limited Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
'Palm Bay Club' 1965 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965. (Photo by Slim Aarons)
Slim Aarons silver gelatine fibre...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons Official Estate Print - Digging For Clams - Oversize
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Digging For Clams
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black Beach, Massachusetts Bay, circa 1960.
Slim Aarons sil...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons 'Digging for Clams on Black Beach' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition), 1960 (printed later)
Chromogenic Lambda print
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low...
Category
1960s American Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons Official Estate Print - Digging For Clams 1960 - Oversize
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Digging For Clams
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black Beach, Massachusetts Bay, circa 1960.
Slim Aarons silver gelatine fibre based print
P...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons Official Estate Print - Palm Bay Club - Oversize
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Palm Bay Club
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965.
Photo by Slim Aarons
Silver gelatin print
Paper size 60 x 40" inches / 152 x 101 cm
printed 2...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Digging for Clams (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Digging for Clams on Black Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition), 1960
Chromogenic Lambda print
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging...
Category
1960s American Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Holiday Hair Check
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Holiday Hair Check, 1958
Silver gelatin print
20 x 16 inches
Faith Gibbons checks her hair in the mirror of a motor scooter, Bermuda, 1958. She is ...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons - Digging for Clams 1960 - Estate Stamped
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Digging For Clams 1960 Slim Aarons
Estate Stamped Limited Edition Fibre Print
Mrs. Leverett Saltonstall Shaw watches her children digging for clams ...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
'Palm Bay Club' 1965 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
'Palm Bay Club' 1965 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965. (Photo by Slim Aarons)
Silver Gelatin Resin Print
Produ...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
'Digging For Clams' 1960 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
'Digging For Clams' 1960 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black Beach, Massachusetts Bay, circa 1960. (Photo b...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons Estate Print - Digging For Clams 1960 - Oversize
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Slim Aarons Estate Print - Digging For Clams - Oversize
Mrs Hans Estin watches her children digging for clams at low tide on Black Beach, Massachusetts Bay, circa 1960.
silver gel...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons Estate Print - Palm Bay Club 1965 - Oversize
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Slim Aarons Estate Print - Palm Bay Club - Oversize
A young woman at the Palm Bay Club, Miami, Florida, USA, circa 1965.
(Photo by Slim Aarons)
silver gelatin print
paper size 40...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Belfast, Ireland
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Estate embossed
Category
1960s Slim Aarons Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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For a limited time only these Slim Aarons prints are available to purchase at 15% discount. Please contact the gallery for any queries.
Please bear in mind that all prints are produced to order. Lead times are expected between 15-20 days.
Currency fluctuations may cause the price to change.
This is a contemporary print from the Getty Archive using Slim Aarons negatives.
Please contact the gallery for information about other print sizes.
All prints feature a Slim Aarons blindstamp, and are accompanied by a Slim Aarons Certificate of Authentication issued by Getty.
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Slim Aarons black and white photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Slim Aarons black and white photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Slim Aarons in silver gelatin print, digital print, paper 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 Slim Aarons black and white photography, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Arthur Rothstein, Larry Clark, and Terry O'Neill. Slim Aarons black and white photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,170 and tops out at $35,000, while the average work can sell for $3,000.