Black and white

Photography, Grotte de Glace II, Juliette Agnel

Grotte de Glace II

Juliette Agnel

Photography - 90 x 60 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 inch

$4,440

Photography, No77 Spirit, Yevgeniy Repiashenko

No77 Spirit

Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Photography - 91 x 91 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.8 x 35.8 x 0 inch

$1,637

Photography, Sumo 9, Raynald Najosky

Sumo 9

Raynald Najosky

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,776 $1,598

Photography, Coluche - Iconic portraits, Arnaud Baumann

Coluche - Iconic portraits

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$1,554

Photography, Pays #207, Philippe Bréson

Pays #207

Philippe Bréson

Photography - 27 x 27 x 1 cm Photography - 10.6 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

$999

Photography, Madison Man, Ian Wallace

Madison Man

Ian Wallace

Photography - 50.8 x 40.64 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0 inch

$1,665

Photography, Femme rêvée à la pierre, Michel Verna

Femme rêvée à la pierre

Michel Verna

Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,054

Photography, Men's World 2, Olha Stepanian

Men's World 2

Olha Stepanian

Photography - 78.7 x 78.7 cm Photography - 31 x 31 inch

$1,850

Photography, Sans titre, Julien Drogoul

Sans titre

Julien Drogoul

Photography - 60 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

$999

Photography, Hug, Mihaela Ivanova

Hug

Mihaela Ivanova

Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$544 $489

Photography, Mark Ronson, Noa Grayevsky

Mark Ronson

Noa Grayevsky

Photography - 10.752 x 8.847 x 0.3 cm Photography - 4.2 x 3.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,665

Photography, Loup blanc de face, V Munier

Loup blanc de face

V Munier

Photography - 50 x 75 x 5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 2 inch

$6,860

Photography, Balaena III, Paula Golemo

Balaena III

Paula Golemo

Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$200

Photography, Melancholic Tulip, André Kertész

Melancholic Tulip

André Kertész

Photography - 30 x 23 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

$1,665

Photography, Noor, Daniel Holfeld

Noor

Daniel Holfeld

Photography - 80 x 53 cm Photography - 31.5 x 20.9 inch

$1,332

Photography, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao 1, Antoine Kubler

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao 1

Antoine Kubler

Photography - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$277

Photography, Who will fly you there, Grzegorz Sikorski

Who will fly you there

Grzegorz Sikorski

Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch

$277

Photography, lusclnuS, Louis Blanc

lusclnuS

Louis Blanc

Photography - 70 x 70 x 1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,110

Photography, Chrissie Hynde, Paris, Pierre Terrasson

Chrissie Hynde, Paris

Pierre Terrasson

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,665

Photography, Upper Glasses Royal Ascot, Arthur Steel

Upper Glasses Royal Ascot

Arthur Steel

Photography - 48 x 61 x 1 cm Photography - 18.9 x 24 x 0.4 inch

$2,026

Photography, Jump, Mourad Cherifi

Jump

Mourad Cherifi

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.02 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$1,498

Print, Seb, Unconventional, David Manaud

Seb, Unconventional

David Manaud

Print - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$111

Photography, Keith Richards, John Rowlands

Keith Richards

John Rowlands

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch

$1,350

Photography, The Mimic, Amrita Bilimoria

The Mimic

Amrita Bilimoria

Photography - 30.5 x 39.6 x 0.5 cm Photography - 12 x 15.6 x 0.2 inch

$1,200

Photography, Emily - Le Bataclan - Concert de Jukebox Champions - Paris 2014 - série Photo Noir et Blanc, Lucas Perrigot

Emily - Le Bataclan - Concert de Jukebox Champions - Paris 2014 - série Photo Noir et Blanc

Lucas Perrigot

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$322

Photography, André Villers Photograph of Picasso, André Villers

André Villers Photograph of Picasso

André Villers

Photography - 40.64 x 50.8 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0 inch

$3,885

Photography, Bilbao 30/09/2010 15:22h. (Identity Promises Series), Imanol Marrodán

Bilbao 30/09/2010 15:22h. (Identity Promises Series)

Imanol Marrodán

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$943

Photography, Carla Bruni - Gitane - dyptique, Philippe Robert

Carla Bruni - Gitane - dyptique

Philippe Robert

Photography - 105 x 145 x 1 cm Photography - 41.3 x 57.1 x 0.4 inch

$13,875

Print, Reach for the Sky, Rachel Jeraffi

Reach for the Sky

Rachel Jeraffi

Print - 60.96 x 91.44 x 1 cm Print - 24 x 36 x 0.4 inch

$2,442

Photography, E.Doll n°65, Softtwix

E.Doll n°65

Softtwix

Photography - 52 x 78 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20.5 x 30.7 x 0 inch

$1,776

Photography, Rolling Stones (1998), Kevin Westenberg

Rolling Stones (1998)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 40 x 51 cm Photography - 15.7 x 20.1 inch

$1,965

Photography, Shoot again (887), Yves Cham

Shoot again (887)

Yves Cham

Photography - 45 x 60 x 0.01 cm Photography - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$1,332

Photography, The Gaze, Drew Doggett

The Gaze

Drew Doggett

Photography - 68.6 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27 x 18 x 0.1 inch

$1,650

Photography, Botanical Studies - The B-Sides - No. 01, Matthias Conrad

Botanical Studies - The B-Sides - No. 01

Matthias Conrad

Photography - 75 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,942

Photography, La valse du réfectoire - série Une Vie de Moine, Jean-François Talivez

La valse du réfectoire - série Une Vie de Moine

Jean-François Talivez

Photography - 23 x 35 x 0.1 cm Photography - 9.1 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$488

Photography, Les femmes guerrières, Charles Bayonne

Les femmes guerrières

Charles Bayonne

Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

$1,332

Photography, Human Nature Pt. 1, Brendan North

Human Nature Pt. 1

Brendan North

Photography - 40.6 x 25.4 cm Photography - 16 x 10 inch

$1,650

Photography, The eyes, Samuel Cueto

The eyes

Samuel Cueto

Photography - 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$999

Photography, Last London Bus, Bert Hardy

Last London Bus

Bert Hardy

Photography - 31 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography - 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

$1,221

Photography, L'Escalier, Christophe Battifero

L'Escalier

Christophe Battifero

Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0.2 inch

$644

Photography, Mur 001, Sophie Bassouls

Mur 001

Sophie Bassouls

Photography - 33 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 13 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch

$832

Photography, Marilyn on the Roof, Ed Feingersh

Marilyn on the Roof

Ed Feingersh

Photography - 51 x 41 cm Photography - 20.1 x 16.1 inch

$549

Photography, Laura, Laurent Poleo Garnier

Laura

Laurent Poleo Garnier

Photography - 60 x 40 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 inch

$1,776

Fine Art Drawings, Mirada Frontal IV, Teresa Riba

Mirada Frontal IV

Teresa Riba

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 71 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 28 inch

$999

Photography, Cigarette et cendrier, Pierre Boillon

Cigarette et cendrier

Pierre Boillon

Photography - 60 x 42 x 3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 16.5 x 1.2 inch

$599

Photography, The girl from Seville #4 - Slices of Life Series, Anna Levesh

The girl from Seville #4 - Slices of Life Series

Anna Levesh

Photography - 100 x 75 cm Photography - 39.4 x 29.5 inch

$988

Photography, Marilyn Glamour 2010, Russell Young

Marilyn Glamour 2010

Russell Young

Photography - 92 x 72 x 2 cm Photography - 36.2 x 28.3 x 0.8 inch

$18,869

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

Kashi

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm Photography - 26.4 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,276

Photography, La Glaneuse, Marie Dorigny

La Glaneuse

Marie Dorigny

Photography - 38 x 58 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15 x 22.8 x 0 inch

$1,554

Photography, Tenerife, Anaga Forest, Fabien Olart

Tenerife, Anaga Forest

Fabien Olart

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$555

Print, Urban Symphony, Thomas  Canto

Urban Symphony

Thomas Canto

Print - 70 x 90 cm Print - 27.6 x 35.4 inch

$1,085

Photography, Sci sull'acqua Venezia, Vittorio Pavan

Sci sull'acqua Venezia

Vittorio Pavan

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$721

Print, Legend, Azia Maria Sammartano

Legend

Azia Maria Sammartano

Print - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,221

Photography, Yosemite National Park. USA on the road, Tina Smeraldi

Yosemite National Park. USA on the road

Tina Smeraldi

Photography - 40 x 60 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 inch

$1,942

Photography, Impact 21, Hugo Gus Babey

Impact 21

Hugo Gus Babey

Photography - 37.5 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 14.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$2,098

Photography, City Palace. Udaipur. Inde., Olivier Perrin

City Palace. Udaipur. Inde.

Olivier Perrin

Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.2 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch

$832

Photography, Ensayo, James Sparshatt

Ensayo

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40 x 50 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 inch

$1,023

Photography, Cooling Tour, Cécile Baldewyns

Cooling Tour

Cécile Baldewyns

Photography - 40 x 60 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 inch

$888

Photography, Bruma Portfolio, Miguel Winograd

Bruma Portfolio

Miguel Winograd

Photography - 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Photography - 14 x 11 x 2 inch

$3,000

Photography, fkaTwigs, Kate Garner

fkaTwigs

Kate Garner

Photography - 101.6 x 76.2 x 0.3 cm Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 inch

$3,200

Print, Ein-Stein-Zeit, Joseph Beuys

Ein-Stein-Zeit

Joseph Beuys

Print - 28.5 x 40 x 1 cm Print - 11.2 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$3,330

Photography, L'envol, Philippe Grincourt

L'envol

Philippe Grincourt

Photography - 39 x 59 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.4 x 23.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,054

Photography, Love, Petite Poissone

Love

Petite Poissone

Photography - 23 x 29 x 2 cm Photography - 9.1 x 11.4 x 0.8 inch

$477

Painting, Sur le sable, Valérie Betoulaud

Sur le sable

Valérie Betoulaud

Painting - 48 x 55 x 1 cm Painting - 18.9 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,443

Photography, Sans Titre, Jean-François Spricigo

Sans Titre

Jean-François Spricigo

Photography - 27.5 x 27.5 x 1 cm Photography - 10.8 x 10.8 x 0.4 inch

$2,886

Print, M408, Jesús Perea

M408

Jesús Perea

Print - 100 x 70 cm Print - 39.4 x 27.6 inch

$1,608

Photography, Noir 01 “Black River”, Hengki Koentjoro

Noir 01 “Black River”

Hengki Koentjoro

Photography - 43 x 43 x 0.02 cm Photography - 16.9 x 16.9 x 0 inch

$1,054 $999

Print, Jim Morrison, Bill Degadans

Jim Morrison

Bill Degadans

Print - 90 x 60 x 0.3 cm Print - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,387

Photography, Oni Lulu, Kamal Obat

Oni Lulu

Kamal Obat

Photography - 84.1 x 59.4 x 2.5 cm Photography - 33.1 x 23.4 x 1 inch

$799

Photography, Light as a stone, Chiara Mazzocchi

Light as a stone

Chiara Mazzocchi

Photography - 50 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

$549

Photography, Twisted Branch, Jan Gordon

Twisted Branch

Jan Gordon

Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 x 0.4 cm Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.15 inch

$950

Photography, Succession, David Yarrow

Succession

David Yarrow

Photography - 180 x 274 x 5 cm Photography - 70.9 x 107.9 x 2 inch

$44,399

Painting, Without title (TP09AP11), Teresa Pera

Without title (TP09AP11)

Teresa Pera

Painting - 76.5 x 58 x 0.1 cm Painting - 30.1 x 22.8 x 0 inch

$1,088

Print, Digging for clams, Slim Aarons

Digging for clams

Slim Aarons

Print - 101 x 101 cm Print - 39.8 x 39.8 inch

$3,680

Fine Art Drawings, Small Maelstrom (Ref 855), Jaanika Peerna

Small Maelstrom (Ref 855)

Jaanika Peerna

Fine Art Drawings - 46 x 46 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.1 x 18.1 inch

$1,248

Print, Work 19, Katsuro Yoshida

Work 19

Katsuro Yoshida

Print - 47.4 x 63.6 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.7 x 25 x 0 inch

$6,549

Photography, Still Cassius Clay V, Gerry Cranham

Still Cassius Clay V

Gerry Cranham

Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

$1,099

Photography, Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Ibuta-ji, Matsusaka city, Mie prefecture, 2023-11, N°11, Teddy Peix

Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), Ibuta-ji, Matsusaka city, Mie prefecture, 2023-11, N°11

Teddy Peix

Photography - 28 x 20 x 0.01 cm Photography - 11 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$433

Photography, Grand Ecran 14, Bruno Fournier

Grand Ecran 14

Bruno Fournier

Photography - 17 x 31 x 1 cm Photography - 6.7 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch

$943

Print, Observers, X New Worlds

Observers

X New Worlds

Print - 70 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$533

Photography, Things aren't always what they seem, On Hansen

Things aren't always what they seem

On Hansen

Photography - 69 x 100 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.2 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,500

Photography, Urbain brutalisme - Digital Art digigraphie, Claire Giraudeau

Urbain brutalisme - Digital Art digigraphie

Claire Giraudeau

Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$166

Painting, Lanterne Volante, Akiza

Lanterne Volante

Akiza

Painting - 170 x 85 x 2 cm Painting - 66.9 x 33.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,220

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled from the series Shifty Packets, Colleen Wolstenholme

Untitled from the series Shifty Packets

Colleen Wolstenholme

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 14.2 inch

$900

Photography, La valise, Lewis Baltz

La valise

Lewis Baltz

Photography - 38 x 43.7 x 5 cm Photography - 15 x 17.2 x 2 inch

$11,655

Photography, Rue Mouffetard, Uwe Ommer

Rue Mouffetard

Uwe Ommer

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

$1,800

Photography, Calligraphing en l'air #6, Cody Choi

Calligraphing en l'air #6

Cody Choi

Photography - 75 x 50 x 1.5 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

$1,930

Photography, Elvis Presley, Harry Hammond

Elvis Presley

Harry Hammond

Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch

$916

Photography, Mada 3, Olivier Le Brun

Mada 3

Olivier Le Brun

Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch

$1,171

Photography, Anonymous Face, Darios Tossou

Anonymous Face

Darios Tossou

Photography - 90 x 60 x 0.8 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.3 inch

$2,053

Print, Reprojection I, Tobias Putrih

Reprojection I

Tobias Putrih

Print - 53 x 76 cm Print - 20.9 x 29.9 inch

$1,665

Fine Art Drawings, Des araignées dans le grenier, Michaël Brack

Des araignées dans le grenier

Michaël Brack

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 inch

$777

Photography, Dont Walk, Karol Kállay

Dont Walk

Karol Kállay

Photography - 30 x 30 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 inch

$1,221

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!

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