Slim Aarons Figurative 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, Aarons opened a bureau for Life magazine in Rome, where he took pictures capturing the postwar scene. He 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, Aarons 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 him 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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Artist: Slim Aarons
Slim Aarons Estate 'Keep Your Cool'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Keep Your Cool, 1978
Chromogenic Lambda print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity.
Carmen Alvarez enjoying a game of backga...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Pool at Lake Tahoe (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Bathers by a pool on the shore of Lake Tahoe, California, 1959.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Slim Aarons (191...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Champagne by the Pool'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Desert House Party
1970 (printed later)
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
Nelda Linsk (left, in yellow), wife of art dealer Joseph Linsk with guests by the pool at the...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'The King of Jazz'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
King of Jazz
1949 (printed later)
Silver gelatin print
estate signature stamped edition of 150
with certificate of authenticity
1949: Photographers taking pictures of A...
Category
1940s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Ready To Roll, John Ford in Hawaii (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Ready To Roll, John Ford in Hawaii, 1955
Fiber print
20 x 24 inches
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons : Surfing Brothers
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Freddie and Howard Cushing surfing with friends at Bailey's Beach (the Spouting Rock Beach Association) in Newport. Their father introduced the sport to the club in the 1930's.
Esta...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Saint-Tropez Sunbathers' (Slim Aarons Estate Esdtion)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Saint-Tropez Sunbathers, 1971
Chromogenic Lambda print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Holidaymakers lounging on t...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Polo Prince'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
August 1985: Prince Charles playing polo for the 'Diables Blues' at Cowdray Park in Sussex.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the...
Category
1980s Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Lido Life, Venice'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Lido Life, Venice
1957
C print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
A waiter serves fruit to...
Category
1950s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons, Backgammon by the Pool (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Backgammon by the Pool, 1957
Silver gelatin print
Estate edition of 150
Countess Peter Jean-Baptiste de Manio (left) and Mary Beth-Turner play backgammon by a swimming pool in Palm ...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Beach Picnic (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Backgammon By The Pool, 1975
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
West Coast magazine publisher Jack Vietor picnicking on the rocks below his home in southern California. ...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Pop and Society: Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, and Desmond Guinness
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
1968: From left to right; singer Marianne Faithfull, the Honorable Desmond Guinness and Mick Jagger (of the Rolling Stones) sit on a sofa under a large gilt framed painting of a woma...
Category
1960s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Snorkeling Holiday (Turks and Caicos) Slim Aarons
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Snorkeling Holiday (Turks and Caicos), 1975
Chromogenic lambda print
A snorkeling holiday in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribb...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons : Eden Roc Pool
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Guests by the pool at the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc, Antibes, France, August 1976.
Slim Aarons worked mainly for society publications, taking pictures of the rich and famous both before...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'The Carlton Hotel'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The entrance to the Carlton Hotel, Cannes, France, 1958.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Slim Aarons (1916-2006)...
Category
1950s Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Snorkeling Holiday (Turks and Caicos) Slim Aarons
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Snorkeling Holiday (Turks and Caicos), 1975
Chromogenic lambda print
A snorkeling holiday in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribb...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons 'Keep Your Cool'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Keep Your Cool, 1978
Chromogenic Lambda print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity.
Carmen Alvarez enjoying a game of backga...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Backgammon By The Pool (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Backgammon By The Pool, 1975
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
Women playing backgammon while sunbathing at the Habitation Leclerc pool in Haiti, January 1975.
Estate ...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
'The Carlton Hotel' Slim Aarons
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Carlton Hotel
1958 (printed later)
C print
50 x 50 inches
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
The entrance to the Car...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Port Life (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Port Life
1977
C-Print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
A man stops to watch a ...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Soho Waiters Race'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Soho Waiters Race, 1955, Printed Later
Waiters carrying half bottles of champagne set off on the annual waiters' race from Soho Square to Greek Street, i...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons 'Poolside Scenery'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Poolside Scenery
1970
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
Nelda Linsk (left, in yellow), wife of art dealer Joseph Linsk with guests by the pool at the Linsk's desert hou...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons Style 'Cricketers on the Pitch'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Cricketers on the pitch, Belfast
1962 (printed later)
Silver gelatin print
estate signature stamped edition of 150
with certificate of authenticity
Cricketers on the pi...
Category
1940s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons Style 'Debutante Ball'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Debutante Ball
1958 (printed later)
Silver gelatin print
estate signature stamped edition of 150
with certificate of authenticity
A debutante ball held at the Copley Pl...
Category
1940s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons Style 'Jean Patchett For Saks Fifth Avenue'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Jean Patchett For Saks Fifth Avenue
Silver gelatin print
estate signature stamped edition of 150
with certificate of authenticity
American model Jean Patchett wearing a...
Category
1940s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons 'Having a Topping Time'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
1959: Socialite Alice Topping relaxing at a poolside in Palm Beach.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Slim Aarons...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
'Christmas Swim' (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Rita Aarons, wife of photographer Slim Aarons, on a lilo in a swimming pool decorated for Christmas, Hollywood, 1954. The Hollywood sign can be seen in the distance.
Estate stamped...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Mara Lane at the Sands
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Austrian actress Mara Lane lounging by the pool in a red and white striped bathing costume at the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, 1954.
Estate stamped and hand numb...
Category
1950s American Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Lake Tahoe Ladies'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Caption:A group of young women in their bathing suits on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, 1959.
Slim Aarons worked mainly for society publications, taking pictures of the rich and fa...
Category
1950s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Vermont Winter (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
circa 1960: Students from Stowe Preparatory School track through deep snow near Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, Vermont.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certif...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'New England Skiing' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
New England Skiing
1955 (printed later)
C-print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Two women recline on improvised su...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Relaxing in Lech'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Relaxing in Lech
1960 (printed later)
C print
Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150
with Certificate of authenticity
A group of people sitting in the sun at the G...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons, Portofino Villa (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Portofino Villa, 1977. (printed later)
C print
Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150
with Certificate of authenticity
Guests by the pool at Klaus Pudel's villa, t...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons 'Skiing Waiters' (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Skiing Waiters, 1960
C print
Edition of 150
Caption: Three skiing waiters on a ski slope, with the man in the foreground carrying a bird on a tray, the second man carri...
Category
1950s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Portofino Villa (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Portofino Villa, 1977. (printed later)
C print
Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150
with Certificate of authenticity
Guests by the pool at Klaus Pudel's villa, t...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons, Hotel Du Cap
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Hotel Du Cap, 1969
C print
Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150
with Certificate of authenticity
Holidaymakers at the Hotel du Cap Ed...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons, Scotti's Yacht
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Scotti's Yacht, 1981
C print
Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150
with Certificate of authenticity
Guests on board Italian Count Hannibal Scotti's yacht, 'Scotla...
Category
1980s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Princess Pia Poolside
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Princess Pia Poolside 1980
Chromogenic Lambda print
40 x 30 inches
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150
Princess Pia Ruspoli laying on a lounger by a swimming pool on th...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Slim Aarons, Eden Roc Chat
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Dani Geneux (left) and Marie-Eugenie Gaudfrin sunbathing at the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc, Antibes, France, August 1976.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Poolside In Sotogrande
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Bathers round a pool in Sotogrande, Spain, August 1975
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Slim Aarons (1916-2006) ...
Category
1970s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Winter Suntans, Gstaad (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Winter Suntans, 1960
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
Young women enjoy a relaxing sunbathe in snowy Gstaad, 1960.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 wit...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Snowmass Village (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Snowmass Village, 1972
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
Women in colourful hats at an apres ski party in Snowmass Village, in Pitkin Co...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Winter Suntans, Gstaad (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Winter Suntans, 1960
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
Young women enjoy a relaxing sunbathe in snowy Gstaad, 1960.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 wit...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Colorful Crew II (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Colorful Crew, 1970
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
A group of colourfully dressed friends on board the Calypso clothing store owned boat, Bermuda, June 1970.
Estate...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Snowmass Gathering
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Two women, wearing brightly-coloured skiwear, stand in the foreground of a group of people attending a outdoor cocktail party in Snowmass Village, in Pitkin County, Colorado, in Apri...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Palm Beach Cocktail Party (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Palm Beach Party, 1964
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
A pool party in Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 1964.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certifica...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Skiers At Gstaad (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Skiers At Gstaad, 1969
Chromogenic Lambda Print
Estate edition of 150
Skiers at Gstaad, Switzerland, 1969.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authe...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons Eden Roc Chat
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Dani Geneux (left) and Marie-Eugenie Gaudfrin sunbathing at the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc, Antibes, France, August 1976.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Vuccino and Rava in Capri (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Carla Vuccino, wearing a swimming cap, and a sunbathing Marina Rava, both wearing bikini as they sit on the rear of a boat, on the waters off the coast of the island of Capri, Italy,...
Category
1950s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons Keep Your Cool
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Keep Your Cool, 1978
Chromogenic Lambda print
40 x 30 inches
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticit...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons Colorful Crew
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Colorful Crew, 1970
Chromogenic Lambda print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity.
A group of colourfully dressed holidaymak...
Category
1970s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
El Venero, Marbella, Spain (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
El Venero, the Moorish villa of Hector and Chico de Ayala in Marbella, Spain, 1971.
Slim Aarons worked mainly for society publications, taking pictures of the rich and famous both b...
Category
1970s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Madame Jean Serpieri (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
December 1961—Madame Jean Serpieri sits in the ballroom of the Tour La Reine near Athens, wearing a gown which belonged to the wife of Otto, the f...
Category
1960s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
The Carlton Hotel
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The entrance to the Carlton Hotel, Cannes, France, 1958.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the esta...
Category
1950s Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Madame Jean Serpieri
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
December 1961—Madame Jean Serpieri sits in the ballroom of the Tour La Reine near Athens, wearing a gown which belonged to the wife of Otto, the f...
Category
1960s Realist Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Port Life, St Tropez (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Port Life, St Tropez, 1977
Chromogenic Lambda print
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
A man stops to watch a young wo...
Category
1970s Contemporary Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Bettina Graziani (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Bettina Graziani, 1964
Chromogenic Lambda print
Glamorous French fashion model Bettina Graziani (Simone Micheline Bodin) (1925 - 2015...
Category
1960s American Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Cliffside Pool
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Clifftop Pool, 1971
Guests around the clifftop pool at Warren Avis' villa 'La Barranca', Las Brisas, Acapulco, Mexico, January 1971
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 15...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Slim Aarons Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Slim Aarons figurative photography available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of figurative photography to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, purple, green and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Slim Aarons in c print, silver gelatin print, digital print 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 figurative photography, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Mark Shaw, Neal Slavin, and Bob Gruen. Slim Aarons figurative photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,350 and tops out at $7,015, while the average work can sell for $2,750.