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Constance (Girlfriend), NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Tabboo! Wigstock, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Jem Jender, Studio, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
Joey Arias Channeling Billie Holiday, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$5,000
A few stolen moments
Luca Brandi
Painting - 100 x 80 x 4.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.8 inch
$5,881
Michael Jackson IX
David Nutter
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
Michael Jackson VII
David Nutter
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
U2 - SkyDome, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
Neil Young - Molson Park, Barrie
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Ozzy Osbourne - Black Sabbath, Ozz Fest, 1998
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Robert Plant - Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Neil Young - Cobo Arena, Detroit
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Roger Waters - Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Slash, Guns N' Roses - Toledo
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
The Police - Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
Tony Bennett - Orillia, ON
Richard Beland
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
Bruce Springsteen - Werchter, Belgium 2003
Richard Beland
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
Chris Martin, Cold Play - The Church on Berkeley, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
David Bowie - Area Two Festival, Toronto 2002
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Gord Downie, The Tragically Hip - Ottawa
Richard Beland
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
Iggy Pop - Toronto 1996
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Jeff Beck - Massey Hall
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Keith Richards, Rolling Stones - Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Keith Richards, Rolling Stones - Soldier Field, Chicago
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Kiss - Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Kiss - Copp's Coliseum
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Kiss - Copp's Coliseum
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Lenny Kravitz - Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Lou Reed - Massey Hall, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones - Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 2 inch
$2,550
Jeff Beck - Massey Hall, Toronto
Richard Beland
Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 24 x 2 inch
$2,550
Man Holding Woman Head - Hipshot Series
Ken Heyman
Photography - 35.6 x 27.9 x 1.3 cm Photography - 14 x 11 x 0.5 inch
$4,000
James Rosenquist in Studio, 1964
Ken Heyman
Photography - 29.2 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 11.5 x 14 x 0.5 inch
$4,800
Claes Oldenburg, 1964
Ken Heyman
Photography - 29.2 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 11.5 x 14 x 0.5 inch
$4,800
Andy Warhol with 16mm Film Projector, 1964
Ken Heyman
Photography - 29.2 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 11.5 x 14 x 0.5 inch
$4,800
James Rosenquist in Studio 2, 1964
Ken Heyman
Photography - 35.6 x 29.2 x 1.3 cm Photography - 14 x 11.5 x 0.5 inch
$4,800
Andy Warhol with Portraits, 1964
Ken Heyman
Photography - 29.2 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 11.5 x 14 x 0.5 inch
$4,800
Loren / Paris Match
Jack Garofalo
Photography - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,527
Bride for one day
Cristina Fontsare
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$679
Grand Palais, Paris
Jack Garofalo
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$961
The seller of old newspapers
Alain Le Chapelier
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
$792
Billiards at the castle
Alain Le Chapelier
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
$792
A Hombros. JT, Nimes, Francia.
Andrés Calamaro
Photography - 40 x 60 x 2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$8,878
Paseíllo al mediodía, Nimes, Francia.
Andrés Calamaro
Photography - 40 x 60 x 2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$8,878
Alberto López Simón. Las Ventas, Madrid.
Andrés Calamaro
Photography - 40 x 60 x 2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$8,878
Walk Along the Canal
Alain Le Chapelier
Photography - 40 x 60 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 inch
$882
The End of the World
Alain Le Chapelier
Photography - 40 x 60 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 inch
$882
On the Kitchen Table 12
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 50 x 75 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 inch
$2,601
Chimigramme 8/4/14 „Voltagramme“ in collaboration with Gundi Falk
Pierre Cordier
Photography - 60 x 50 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 inch
$13,571
Chimigramme 26/8/77 VI „Minimal Photography“
Pierre Cordier
Photography - 50 x 50 x 5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch
$19,225
Gaudí 028
Ivanna Alejandra Sanchez Moretti
Photography - 60 x 80 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 inch
$905
Madrid, Espagne
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$780
Les porteuses d’eau, N'Djamena, Tchad
José Nicolas
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$396
Frida Kahlo en Coyoacán, México, (Framed)
Leo Matiz
Photography - 59.7 x 39.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.5 x 15.55 x 0.1 inch
$3,500
Frida Kahlo en xochimilco, México, (Framed)
Leo Matiz
Photography - 59.7 x 39.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.5 x 15.55 x 0.1 inch
$3,500
Manifest 2
Margaret Neill
Fine Art Drawings - 53.34 x 101.6 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 40 inch
$2,581
Marguerite Duras
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,280
Barman danseur
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,280
Baiser noir et blanc
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,280
Karl Largerfield soirée Kenzo
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$3,280
Senza titolo
Elio Marcucci
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch
$339
Miguel y la Rosa Three
Ricky Cohete
Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 inch
$6,500
Black and white
Before the arrival of photography – with the exception of some etchings and lithographs – all the images we consumed were in colour. Quite simply, because no one would ever have thought to do anything else – why paint in black and white when colour was so readily available?
Yet despite this, today many photographers still choose to work in black and white – such as Pauline Théon, Kadir Von Lohuizen or Joh Lowenstein – even though their photos are taken in colour by the camera itself. Is the black and white trend a fleeting effect of fashion, or a symbolic return to the roots of the photography movement? Black and white photography has something that colour photos, despite recent innovations and the extraordinary quality of images today, cannot quite access. The use of black and white lends significant force to the composition: the contrasts, the shadows and the figures all stand out more strongly. People simply feel differently when faced with a colour photo versus a black and white image.
Colour is a distraction of sorts, a disturbance: colour is a nuisance.
And yet, some photographers still prefer colour to black and white, whilst others merge touches of colour with otherwise monochrome compositions. But in the end, all agree that both styles impose a totally different way of looking at a photo: from researching the shot to post production work, when artists develop or retouch the image. The use of colour is therefore something of a process in its own right, relating to two different ways of viewing the world and showing it others. The question, then, is what is being told, and why is it being in the way that it is?
The symbolic value of putting black and white together is a good starting point for reflecting on the fascination that they generate even today. There could not be a more fascinating, more striking ambivalence than when black, the 'colour' of darkness and burnt coal, considered a non-colour, is placed alongside white – representing light, and the result of all the colours merged together.
The problem faced by photographers today is that black and white still carry strong connotations of the past, of an era before the popularisation of colour and its massive cultural recovery amongst the press and photo journalists. In fact, it is rare now that contemporary subjects are photographed in colour, but we still associate black and white images with a retro feel.
So what does contemporary art have to say about it all? Discover Artsper's selection of black and white works: on the border of past and present, of the real and the imaginary… let us guide you!