![Photography, No title (No59), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1944315_1_grid.jpg)
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![Photography, No title (No59), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1944315_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No96), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2121558_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Le Chasseur, Bruno Roudil](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/705828_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, L'Idée du chevalier - knight's idea, Marino Marini](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/632541_1_grid.jpg)
L'Idée du chevalier - knight's idea
Marino Marini
Print - 51.5 x 38 x 0.2 cm Print - 20.3 x 15 x 0.1 inch
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![Photography, Reigen (Roundelay), Leni Riefenstahl](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/476269_1_grid.jpg)
Reigen (Roundelay)
Leni Riefenstahl
Photography - 37.5 x 49.8 cm Photography - 14.75 x 19.62 inch
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![Photography, No title (No62), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1063236_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Body Painting par Keith Haring, Patrick Sarfati](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/892155_1_grid.jpg)
Body Painting par Keith Haring
Patrick Sarfati
Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
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![Photography, No Title (No54), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1131021_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No11), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1131024_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No Title (No51), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/917217_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No47), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/871266_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No46), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/855654_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No127), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1744872_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No104), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1467696_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No87), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1233279_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No46), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1167459_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Nude Woman, Marcel Gromaire](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/631632_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No11), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1165968_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No47), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1165962_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No67), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1165956_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No46), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1164279_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Née de la vague, Lucien Clergue](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/752235_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Euphoria, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1777131_1_grid.jpg)
Euphoria
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch
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![Photography, No title (No62), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1898007_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Femme à moitié nue aux bas, Emile-François Chambon](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/709617_1_grid.jpg)
Femme à moitié nue aux bas
Emile-François Chambon
Painting - 20 x 27.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 7.9 x 10.8 x 0.1 inch
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![Painting, Tranzyt, Sancko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/444198_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Marisa Papen 3, Samuel Cueto](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1116465_1_grid.jpg)
Marisa Papen 3
Samuel Cueto
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.4 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.2 inch
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![Photography, Nu au sol, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/151837_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No57 SPIRIT Series, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/833616_1_grid.jpg)
No57 SPIRIT Series
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 50.8 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 inch
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![Photography, Gone with the wind, Lesya Rozova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/874737_1_grid.jpg)
Gone with the wind
Lesya Rozova
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.01 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
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![Photography, No44 SPIRIT Series, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/975186_1_grid.jpg)
No44 SPIRIT Series
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Arabesque, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/459061_1_grid.jpg)
Arabesque
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 91 x 91 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.8 x 35.8 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Flame, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/380465_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, la légèreté, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1197333_1_grid.jpg)
la légèreté
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 91 x 61 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.8 x 24 x 0 inch
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![Photography, No62 SPIRIT Series, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1176495_1_grid.jpg)
No62 SPIRIT Series
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Jeune Nuit, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1153497_1_grid.jpg)
Jeune Nuit
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Avant, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1012974_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Euphoria, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1626051_1_grid.jpg)
Euphoria
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Marisa Papen 2, Samuel Cueto](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1116450_1_grid.jpg)
Marisa Papen 2
Samuel Cueto
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.4 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.2 inch
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![Photography, Bustier, John French](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/899121_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Inside, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/839934_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No10 SPIRIT Series, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/370254_1_grid.jpg)
No10 SPIRIT Series
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 90 x 72 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 28.3 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Lotus, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1584066_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Femme Debout dans sa Baignoire, Pierre Bonnard](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/632997_1_grid.jpg)
Femme Debout dans sa Baignoire
Pierre Bonnard
Print - 29.8 x 19.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.7 x 7.6 x 0 inch
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![Photography, No title (No62), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1405044_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No11), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/740082_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No18), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/723039_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No34), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1344582_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Untitled (Salvador Dali Homage), Maurice Tabard](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/477073_1_grid.jpg)
Untitled (Salvador Dali Homage)
Maurice Tabard
Photography - 29.8 x 24.1 cm Photography - 11.75 x 9.5 inch
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![Photography, No title (No119), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1637886_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Hanel allongée sur le lit, Pierre Molinier](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1513284_1_grid.jpg)
Hanel allongée sur le lit
Pierre Molinier
Photography - 12.3 x 17.4 x 0.1 cm Photography - 4.8 x 6.9 x 0 inch
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![Photography, A Fisherman's Wife, Olha Stepanian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2155129_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Les Géantes, Camargue, Lucien Clergue](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1680783_1_grid.jpg)
Les Géantes, Camargue
Lucien Clergue
Photography - 36.2 x 52.7 x 2.57 cm Photography - 14.3 x 20.7 x 1 inch
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![Photography, Les Géantes, Camargue,, Lucien Clergue](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1680687_1_grid.jpg)
Les Géantes, Camargue,
Lucien Clergue
Photography - 36.2 x 52.7 x 2.57 cm Photography - 14.3 x 20.7 x 1 inch
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![Print, Valkyries No.1, Handiedan](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/708636_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nu sur le lit, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/151960_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nu au rocher, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/59097_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Great right, little wrong, Daniel Erban](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/294232_1_grid.jpg)
Great right, little wrong
Daniel Erban
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 76 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 29.9 inch
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![Fine Art Drawings, Winter of our discontents, Daniel Erban](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/294217_1_grid.jpg)
Winter of our discontents
Daniel Erban
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 76 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 29.9 inch
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![Fine Art Drawings, Brutal confrontation, Daniel Erban](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/294202_1_grid.jpg)
Brutal confrontation
Daniel Erban
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 76 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 29.9 inch
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![Fine Art Drawings, Speak less thou knowest, Daniel Erban](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/294187_1_grid.jpg)
Speak less thou knowest
Daniel Erban
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 76 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 29.9 inch
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![Fine Art Drawings, Speak daggers but use none, Daniel Erban](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/294106_1_grid.jpg)
Speak daggers but use none
Daniel Erban
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 76 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 29.9 inch
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![Fine Art Drawings, Chimes of midnight, Daniel Erban](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/294103_1_grid.jpg)
Chimes of midnight
Daniel Erban
Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 76 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 29.9 inch
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![Photography, Shoot again (297), Yves Cham](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2171065_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No46), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1597479_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No96), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1597464_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No title (No92), Suki Da](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1537278_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nu Wild Child, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/151966_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nu sur le sable, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/151933_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nu sur chaise, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/151810_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nu pose sur pierre, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/151801_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nu avec ballon, André de Dienes](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/151792_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Hanel allongée sur le lit, Pierre Molinier](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1513272_1_grid.jpg)
Hanel allongée sur le lit
Pierre Molinier
Photography - 12.1 x 17.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 4.8 x 6.9 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Untitled (Couple at the Beach), Maurice Tabard](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/477052_1_grid.jpg)
Untitled (Couple at the Beach)
Maurice Tabard
Photography - 24.1 x 24.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 9.5 x 9.63 x 0.1 inch
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![Photography, Euphoria, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2127826_1_grid.jpg)
Euphoria
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
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![Painting, Nude No. 3, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/657873_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Rhéa, Delphine Denans](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2077596_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Le bain, Marie Dorigny](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2165517_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Résille II, Marie de Duve](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2111706_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, WetWay, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/455962_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Guard Tower Malibu (2/5), Photograph, Archival ink jet, Aaron Knight](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1815351_1_grid.jpg)
Guard Tower Malibu (2/5), Photograph, Archival ink jet
Aaron Knight
Photography - 81.3 x 55.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 32 x 22 x 0.1 inch
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![Photography, Basking in wonder, Photograph, Archival ink jet, Aaron Knight](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1815345_1_grid.jpg)
Basking in wonder, Photograph, Archival ink jet
Aaron Knight
Photography - 81.3 x 55.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 32 x 22 x 0.1 inch
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![Photography, Lileia, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/406120_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, No16 SPIRIT Series, Yevgeniy Repiashenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/390335_1_grid.jpg)
No16 SPIRIT Series
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 61 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 24 x 16 x 0.1 inch
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![Photography, Sans titre, Rasmus Mogensen](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/313516_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Hair, Franck Leclerc](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1967634_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Fetish, Franck Leclerc](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1967592_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Shoot again (877), Yves Cham](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2171806_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Nude, Nicolas Gloutchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/666174_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Homme montant un escalier, Vladimir Velickovic](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/340531_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Nude, Nicolas Gloutchenko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/666171_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Couple, Jan Saudek](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2121372_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Water clock, Lesya Rozova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/889743_1_grid.jpg)
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!