Abstract Photography
Abstract photography, also sometimes known as experimental photography, is the art of creating a visual effect with an image that has no immediate attachment to reality, by using processes like focusing, framing, or retouching and editing the photograph in post-processing. For example, an abstract picture can sometimes isolate a fragment of an ordinary image to remove it from its original context and give it a surrealist edge. It can also involve playing with blurring, shadows or lighting, textures or unexpected forms. The image is often created with traditional photographic material (analog or digital cameras, dark room, computer). However, artists can also manipulate and alter the film in order to achieve the desired effect.
The first images known as “abstract photographs" appeared shortly after the invention of photography in the 1830s. In 1842, John William Draper created a new type of images with a spectroscope. This machine dispersed light beams and produced a phenomenon that was previously invisible to the eye. The negatives he produced had nothing in common with the works of other photographers, and they opened the way for innovative photographic works. Draper perceived these images as a scientific discovery, not as artworks, but today his method is widely acclaimed by critics for its inherent originality.
In England, Anna Atkins was also a pioneer of abstract photography; she was the first one to place dry algae on cyanotype paper. This scientific experiment improved photographic techniques by creating unique blue and white images. Moreover, the discovery of X-ray and radioactivity in 1896 provoked a fascination for the invisible and many photographers were immediately drawn to these phenomena. French photographer Louis Darget attempted to capture mental processes by pressing unexposed plates to the foreheads of his and trying to get them to project images from their minds onto the plates. He carried out thousands of similar experiments.
It was only during the 20th century that abstract photography truly became recognised as an artistic practice. Surrealism and cubism started replacing impressionism, especially after the Salon d'Automne in 1903 in Paris. This event highlighted new talents like Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp… Ten years later, in New York, Wassily Kandinsky, Mondrian, Braque and Delaunay shocked audiences. The freedom coming from abstract art inspired some of the greatest photographers to break the rules.
Erwin Quedenfeldt exhibited the first abstract photographs in Cologne in 1914. From 1920 to 1930, Europe became the epicenters of conceptual photography with artists such as Jaroslav Rossler, Josef Sudeck, and Rössler exploring abstraction.
Post-processing became more central to photographic works in the 60s and the 70s, with artists like Josef Newman. Eventually, the growing popularity of computers in the 90s and the 2000s opened up infinite possibilities for creating original work. Some contemporary photographers like Peter Klasen, Dominic Harris, or Nicolas Dubreuille combine photography with other mediums.
Find them all on Artsper with our unique selection of abstract photographs.
Paola Dávila
28° 14' 34.127’’N, 114° 6' 44.679’’W-12, 2022 38 x 56 x 0.3 cm Photography
$1,500
Vik Muniz
Saturn devouring one of his sons, after F. de Goya, 2005 129 x 101 x 0.1 cm Photography
$34,032
Anna Levesh
City Rumors #15 - City Rumors Series, 2020 46.7 x 35 cm Photography
$1,099
Jason Engelund
Wingspan over Joshua Tree, 2022 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography
$1,563
David Pinegar
Don't make a pin cushion out of this big balloon, 2020 110 x 110 x 0.2 cm Photography
$1,780
Adam Sobkiewicz
The right Perspective, Spain, 2019 22.6 x 15 x 0.2 cm Photography
$105
Franco Fontana
Paesaggio Puglia, 1978 63.5 x 43 x 0.1 cm Photography
$5,131
Jean-Jacques Guionnet
Abstraction 10, 2021 60 x 60 x 2 cm Photography
$1,026
Joy Is outside
Menthe à l'eau, 2022 70 x 100 cm Photography
$942
Marie-jeanne Hoffner
Mies Unfolded, 2021 200 x 132 cm Photography
$628
Philippe Bréson
Ardoise #03, 2022 51 x 41 x 0.1 cm Photography
$1,600
David Agius
Deterritorialisation 10, 2012 66 x 100 x 4 cm Photography
$1,152
Sven Pfrommer
Urban blur VII, 2015 100 x 100 x 3 cm Photography
$1,979
Leah Desmousseaux
34° 33’ 15" N 38° 16’ 00" E, 2020 110 x 170 x 4 cm Photography
$3,665
Tadashi Nishida
Move, 2022 34.68 x 34.68 x 3 cm Photography
$607
Lucia Heumann
Forest Walk, 2022 60 x 40 x 3 cm Photography
$2,304
Giovanni Corrêa
RV0220, 2020 14 x 20 x 1 cm Photography
$471
Bertrand Gruyer
Window 01 Al., 2020 120 x 95 cm Photography
$2,513
Maria Chiara Re
Photographie, 2022 140 x 105 cm Photography
$313
Luca Izzo
Oceani Mentali N°6, 2018 80 x 60 x 1 cm Photography
$1,571
Richard Caldicott
Untitled 109, 1999 36 x 28 cm Photography
$1,250
Patrick Chappert-Gaujal
Sans titre, 2018 94 x 74 x 0.2 cm Photography
$1,780
Jean-Paul Baret
N°2076, 2018 110 x 60 cm Photography
$859
Sjaak Korsten
Hide 3, 2017 85 x 70 x 1 cm Photography
$1,675
Léa Dedieu
Coquelicot, 2020 60 x 45 x 3 cm Photography
$995
Nils Eichberg
Colors Of Africa: Kyalami 1979, 2008 50 x 50 cm Photography
$1,204
Seb Janiak
Gravity liquid 58 (Large), 2015 127 x 100 cm Photography
$5,500
Aline Isoard
Station 6, 2017 60 x 60 cm Photography
$1,152
Lucas Gallego
A luminous body VI, 2020 35 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography
$900
Alain Kramer
Par 1508-07 - série Photo abstraite, 2015 116 x 89 x 2 cm Photography
$1,089
Sophie Derrick
Close to nothing (Yellow), 2015 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography
$1,500
Paul Snell
Trace # 201904, 2019 120 x 49 cm Photography
$4,875
Pol Durruff
Sans titre, 2018 62 x 54 x 4 cm Photography
$1,131
Fei Wang
Structure, 2021 60 x 45 x 1 cm Photography
$1,257
Tony Soulié
Sans titre, 2020 40 x 50 cm Photography
$2,827
Yves Bordes Lapeyre
Matière avec ligne jaune, 2011 80 x 80 x 0.5 cm Photography
$932
Blechmeki
Photo Tableaux 14l, 2021 66 x 66 x 2.5 cm Photography
$1,200
Jan Gordon
Twisted Branch, 2015 76.2 x 76.2 x 0.4 cm Photography
$950
Hector Adalid
Pianeta pluto, 2018 100 x 100 x 1 cm Photography
$1,770
Alfons Alt
Lotus papyrique, 2017 30 x 24 x 5 cm Photography
$1,257
Zelda Zinn
Perpetual Plastic #2289, 2018 61 x 45.7 cm Photography
$1,000
Ansje Visser
Cynosure, 2021 60 x 60 x 3 cm Photography
$838
Lilia El Golli
Corruption(s) – The Lady, 2016 40 x 60 cm Photography
$904
Alexandra Haasz
Tengri, 2019 60 x 60 cm Photography
$953
Roman Koenig
Futurisme, 2015 60 x 90 x 2 cm Photography
$1,257
Robin Thurel
Kundalini 03, 2018 66 x 100 cm Photography
$1,571
Benedicte Van der Maar
The bride - India - Acceleration series, 2007 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography
$1,204
Jérémie Lenoir
#6561087, Salt lake, 2017 80 x 80 x 0.5 cm Photography
$3,037
Sandra Gonçalves
Chaos - 02, 2020 50 x 70 cm Photography
$890
Isabel Devos
Gird, 2020 74 x 64 x 5 cm Photography
$1,885
Philip Provily
Bleue, 2006 57 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography
$1,257
Denis Jutzeler
Composition 1474, 2016 60 x 48 x 1 cm Photography
$1,257
Thierry Dubrunfaut
Dsc3637, 2012 60 x 90 x 2.5 cm Photography
$1,675
Scowcza
Affrontements, 2022 120 x 50 x 2 cm Photography
$942
Fabrice Quignette
Toys for kids 7, 2021 80 x 80 x 1 cm Photography
$963
Diego Kahlo
Solo Flor Sol, 2017 61 x 40.6 cm Photography
$1,650
Emmanuel Segaut
Cache-cache, 2020 60 x 60 x 3.3 cm Photography
$1,466
Baptiste Rabichon
Manhattan Drawings - 009, 2019 36 x 24 cm Photography
$1,571
Priska Walliman
Invitation, 2021 90 x 90 x 0.4 cm Photography
$1,571
Daphnée Marie Harper
La piscine, Marseille Modulor, 2016 120 x 80 cm Photography
$1,257
Guillaume Ledoux
Surf Lesson, 2017 51.5 x 80 x 2 cm Photography
$1,725
Bernard Langenstein
Les noires dans l'Oberland 4/5, 2012 50 x 75 x 1 cm Photography
$1,885
Eli Joteva
CryoLumen Storm Print: Snow Water in a Snow Storm, 1-hour exposure (Rila National Park), January 17, 2021, 2021 100 x 80 x 4 cm Photography
$880
Jean-Claude Byandb
Entre Vous & Nous, 2019 60 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography
$639
Edouard Golbin
Les trottoirs de Buenos Aires 1, 2020 62.2 x 88.4 x 0.1 cm Photography
$890
Corinne Cavillac
Colombes A, 2017 150 x 100 cm Photography
$1,885
Vianca Reinig
5:5, you are still ok. (1), 2021 108 x 100 cm Photography
$6,283
Silvia Coccaglio
Parete, 2017 50 x 75 x 1 cm Photography
$1,780
Pierre Lan
Beauté de la résilience #2, 2020 50 x 76 cm Photography
$890
Gisela Gaffoglio
Mediodía, 2018 75 x 48 x 1 cm Photography
$942
Philippe Boutefeu
LeavesCourges, 2019 60 x 90 x 3 cm Photography
$1,257
Olivier Attar (Attoli)
Cell, 2021 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography
$890
Richard Gaylon
Stronger, 2019 114.3 x 76.2 x 0.254 cm Photography
$2,262
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