Portrait Photography for Sale
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Happiness Music Dinner
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 109 x 222 x 0.5 cm Photography - 42.9 x 87.4 x 0.2 inch
$39,581
No prostitution Here Geisha
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 90 x 90 x 0.5 cm Photography - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.2 inch
$16,963
Marion - Île de beaulieu - Nantes - série Danse photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
Kévin - Le mur - La poste - Nantes - série Danse photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
Jessie - Halles Alstom - Nantes - série photo Danse Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
MC Solaar, Daddy Lord C et JP Manova - Médiathèque Françoise Sagan - Paris - Concert de JP Manova pour la radio Le Mouv' - série photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
Pépé, une seconde avant - Festival Fête du Bruit - Saint Nolff - Concert du groupe Deluxe - série photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
Pépé, saxophoniste du groupe Deluxe - Le Stéréolux - Nantes - Dans les coulisses de l'Olympia d'Ibeyi - série photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
L'homme à la guitare - Le Trianon - Paris - Avant première du concert de Guts - série photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
IBEYI23 Olympia - L'Olympia - Paris - Dans les coulisses de l'Olympia d'Ibeyi - série photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
Dany Dan - La Carrière - Saint Herblain 2013 - Dans les coulisses du festival Hip Opsession - série photo Noir et Blanc
Lucas Perrigot
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$328
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
$328
Carla Bruni - Gitane - dyptique
Philippe Robert
Photography - 105 x 145 x 1 cm Photography - 41.3 x 57.1 x 0.4 inch
$14,136
Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas #05
Malo
Photography - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$6,333
Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas #04
Malo
Photography - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$6,333
Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas #09
Malo
Photography - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$6,333
Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas #01
Malo
Photography - 112 x 150 x 1 cm Photography - 44.1 x 59.1 x 0.4 inch
$20,922
Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas #09
Malo
Photography - 120 x 90 x 1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch
$14,023
Désir de chasse, autoportrait
Jean-Robert Franco
Photography - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$2,036
Portrait lyrique Alexandra
Jean-Robert Franco
Photography - 60 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,696
Les sandales - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 35 x 35 x 0.1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch
$498
Les sandales 2 - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
Le barbu - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
Le sucre, Père Jean-Joseph - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
La ligne, frère Marie-Antoine - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
L'évier - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
L'Escalier - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498 $448
Tonsure, la valse - série Une Vie de Moine
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
Tonsure, humilité
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
Père Pio-Marie
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
Les trois carreaux
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
L'Ampoule
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498
Tonsure Frère Lazare
Jean-François Talivez
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$498 $448
L'homme en rouge, Kenya
Christelle Yambayisa
Photography - 105 x 70 x 1 cm Photography - 41.3 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch
$3,166
L'ivresse bleue, France
Christelle Yambayisa
Photography - 105 x 70 x 1 cm Photography - 41.3 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch
$3,166
Sans Titre
Jean-François Spricigo
Photography - 27.5 x 27.5 x 1 cm Photography - 10.8 x 10.8 x 0.4 inch
$2,714
Michael Lonsdale
Jean-François Spricigo
Photography - 25 x 38 x 1 cm Photography - 9.8 x 15 x 0.4 inch
$3,166
Ray of Light
Drew Doggett
Photography - 45.7 x 68.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 18 x 27 x 0.1 inch
$1,650
Solar Eclipse
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 x 0.5 cm Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 inch
$5,500
Hausa and Fula cultures collide
John Kenny
Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm Photography - 26.4 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,655
Livre IV / Eryngium giganteum L. (Panicaut géant), 2022, in Herbarium Florum obsidionalium (2021-2023)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 30.5 x 41 cm Photography - 12 x 16.1 inch
$4,524
Untitled (Identity Promises series)
Imanol Marrodán
Photography - 18 x 27 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.1 x 10.6 x 0 inch
$368
Cristina's world (Identity assertions series)
Imanol Marrodán
Photography - 18 x 42 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.1 x 16.5 x 0 inch
$368
Serie Anna. Moscow
Stanley Greene
Photography - 10.8 x 8.9 x 1 cm Photography - 4.3 x 3.5 x 0.4 inch
$10,178
Serie Anna. Moscow
Stanley Greene
Photography - 10.8 x 8.9 x 1 cm Photography - 4.3 x 3.5 x 0.4 inch
$10,178
Serie Anna. Moscow
Stanley Greene
Photography - 10.8 x 8.9 x 1 cm Photography - 4.3 x 3.5 x 0.4 inch
$10,178
Silver
Kalliope Amorphous
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.05 inch
$2,200
Iggy Pop - La Villette 86
Pierre Terrasson
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$1,583
I Have Wings Too
Dasha Pears
Photography - 70 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0 inch
$1,334
Contemplation
Mourad Cherifi
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.02 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$1,357
El Revolucionario
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,052
El caballero
James Sparshatt
Photography - 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch
$1,052
The Coen Brothers (2001)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 61 x 51 cm Photography - 24 x 20.1 inch
$2,375
Lets play hockey!
David Carey
Photography - 46 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 18.1 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$112
Over my dead body!
David Carey
Photography - 41 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.1 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$112
Potato Eaters in my basement
David Carey
Photography - 38 x 51 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15 x 20.1 x 0 inch
$112
Coluche - Iconic portraits
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$1,583
Synesthetic Letters - V
Dasha Pears
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$882
Forest Whitaker
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$1,866
Introspection
Mathilde Oscar
Photography - 60 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$2,262
Hiding in the city, Paris - n°14, Pharmacy
Liu Bolin
Photography - 90 x 120 cm Photography - 35.4 x 47.2 inch
$16,398
Thom Yorke (2006)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 152 x 101 cm Photography - 59.8 x 39.8 inch
$14,996
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
Portrait Photography for Sale
In the 1830s, Nièpce discovered the process for setting images onto pewter plates. In 1833, upon Nièpce's death, Louis Daguerre and François Arago continued his experiments and invented the daguerreotype, a process which created a printed image on a silver plate that had been exposed to light. Photography was born.
Similarly to how portrait painting had dominated artistic output in previous centuries, portrait photography was to become the pillar of the Second French Empire's photographic industry. Lenses with a shorter focal length, which enabled reduced exposure times, gradually appear on the market. The required equipment was expensive and difficult to handle. Some photographers, called daguerreotypists, decided to open their own photography studios to make a profit from their endeavours. The daguerreotype process was temperamental, and photographers had to take their pictures with great precision and attention to detail. They welcomed many people into their studios and customers choose how they wished to be photographed from catalogue of poses. Originally only accessible to the bourgeoisie, lower prices resulting from the growing number of studios eventually attracted a wider customer base. This phenomenon infuriated the poet Charles Baudelaire who was frustrated by the sense of narcissism sparked by the daguerreotypists.
Despite his protests, the egotistical trend only grew with the emergence of 'carte de visite' portraits (small photographs, the size of today's business cards). These were the brainchild of Adolphe Eugène Disdéri came up with the idea of producing portraits akin to visiting cards in 1859. He printed eight portraits in a variety of poses onto a single plate and once developed they could be cut up into eight distinct “visiting cards". Very popular with the bourgeoisie, they highlighted the sitters' social status. 'Carte de visite' portraits featuring celebrities were also sold to customers, who could subsequently add them to their albums.
The photographer Nadar was one of the first to demonstrate a conscious artistic approach to producing these portraits. He emphasised facial expressions and ensured the sitter was comfortable and at ease before taking the photograph. He photographed the era's greatest thinkers and artists, including Honoré de Balzac, George Sand, and Victor Hugo. He even managed to reconcile Baudelaire with portraiture.
At the end of the 19th century, the art of photography started to enter the mainstream, with the arrival of the Kodak company. The use of the camera, and the taking of portraits, became everyday occurrences. A century later, it was the invention of the digital camera which challenged the status quo. Whereas before alterations could only be made to photographs when they were being taken or developed, with the digital camera editing became easier, quicker and more convenient. Digital photography has given photographers much more freedom when it comes to editing and new methods and techniques are constantly being explored.
Some of the photographers who have left their mark on the last century include: Cindy Sherman, who excelled in self-portraits, Annie Leibovitz, who captured celebrities, the wacky duo, Pierre and Gilles, as well as Diane Arbus, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Bettina Rheims.
So, do portraits help us to learn more about each other, to remember, to invent, to act, or to reconnect with ourselves? Find out on Artsper, by exploring the works of Formento & Formento, Naomi Vona, Ahmed Bennani, Chou Ching Hui, Samuel Cueto, Brno del Zou, Ren Hang, Markus + Indrani, Jerome Liebling as well as Annina Roescheisen.
A portrait photograph can be a photograph of a person's head and shoulders, but it can also be of an animal or of a different section of the subject's body such as their feet. Portrait photographs in art often tell or hint something about its subject to the viewer, such as an aspect of their personality, but still contain an element of mystery.
The three major types of portrait photography are posed portraits, candid or anonymous portraits, and conceptual portraits. The last type, conceptual or creative portraits, can be experimental and abstract, and may not represent an image close to a traditional portrait.
The six main types of portrait photography are fine art portraits, traditional portraits (for example posed portraits taken at school), lifestyle portraits, group portraits, street portraits and glamour portraits.