![Painting, Voyou 14/20, JP Malot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/630516_1_grid.jpg)
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![Painting, Voyou 14/20, JP Malot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/630516_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Plan A, Petite Poissone](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2145721_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut Hollywood California USA, Philippe Halsman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2083125_1_grid.jpg)
Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut Hollywood California USA
Philippe Halsman
Photography - 61 x 45.7 x 5.1 cm Photography - 24 x 18 x 2 inch
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![Photography, Vespas à Montmartre, Paris, vers 1950, Maurice Bonnel](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1409283_1_grid.jpg)
Vespas à Montmartre, Paris, vers 1950
Maurice Bonnel
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
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![Print, Volubilis, Antonin Anzil](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/651555_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Carte de Voeux, Jean Jansem](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/507179_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, 'Café Cairo', Gabriel Lekegian](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/899115_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Untitled, Margrethe Mather](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/845034_1_grid.jpg)
Untitled
Margrethe Mather
Photography - 25.1 x 18.7 x 0.3 cm Photography - 9.88 x 7.38 x 0.1 inch
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![Painting, Texture couteau blanc noire, Jonathan Pradillon](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/708657_1_grid.jpg)
Texture couteau blanc noire
Jonathan Pradillon
Painting - 61 x 50 x 1.6 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
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![Photography, Hidden, Edgar Nabla](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/475897_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Musiciens 5e Avenue, Pierre-Gérard Langlois](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/86050_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, 14, Studio Abawé](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/547114_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Aya, Tiven](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/399667_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, Lui, Ada Loumani](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/280135_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Chestnut Triptych, Matthias Conrad](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2105853_1_grid.jpg)
Chestnut Triptych
Matthias Conrad
Photography - 60 x 180 x 3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 70.9 x 1.2 inch
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![Painting, Black Gold #7, Kool Koor](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/168064_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Zen, Tiago Magro](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1073226_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Not, Edgar Nabla](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/980028_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Dog Team Resting, Herbert Ponting](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/898911_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Hamta Pass Himalayas, Samuel Bourne](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/898479_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Himalayas, Samuel Bourne](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/898467_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Scott’s Expedition Team, Herbert Ponting](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/896754_1_grid.jpg)
Scott’s Expedition Team
Herbert Ponting
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography - 40 x 60 inch
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![Photography, Orchid, Iran Issa-Khan](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/824256_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Une parisienne à Bicyclette, Sylvia Galmot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/131350_1_grid.jpg)
Une parisienne à Bicyclette
Sylvia Galmot
Photography - 60 x 80 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 inch
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![Photography, Duke Ellington, Harry Hammond](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/898899_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Taj Mahal Gateway, Felice Beato](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/896625_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Hammond](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/898914_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Sol, Muriel Patarroni](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/32333_1_grid.jpg)
Sol
Muriel Patarroni
Fine Art Drawings - 116 x 81 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 45.7 x 31.9 x 1.6 inch
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![Print, Kick off, Miquel Wert](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/240670_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Girls, Petite Poissone](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2145719_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Erratum, Petite Poissone](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2145718_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Greta Garbo with hat, portrait, Clarence Sinclair Bull](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/917277_1_grid.jpg)
Greta Garbo with hat, portrait
Clarence Sinclair Bull
Photography - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch
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![Photography, Nude #14, Platinum Palladium print, Seike Tomio](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/845151_1_grid.jpg)
Nude #14, Platinum Palladium print
Seike Tomio
Photography - 24.1 x 20.3 x 3.8 cm Photography - 9.5 x 8 x 1.5 inch
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![Print, Untitle 1, Célia Picard](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/621279_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Wellenelement Inverse Transformation 1, Hein Gravenhorst](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/442866_1_grid.jpg)
Wellenelement Inverse Transformation 1
Hein Gravenhorst
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
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![Photography, Mer de Chine, Boat People, José Nicolas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1898934_1_grid.jpg)
Mer de Chine, Boat People
José Nicolas
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
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![Painting, Akiza Ohm - Jour 27 - 8/12, Akiza](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1155249_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Corrida 4, Pierre Casbas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/541756_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, La duègne, Anne Bachelier](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/275107_1_grid.jpg)
La duègne
Anne Bachelier
Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 24 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch
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![Painting, Coco Chanel, Yarps](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/273715_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Scepter, Edgar Nabla](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/979980_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Node, Edgar Nabla](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/979929_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Qutab Minar, Shepherd & Robertson](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/896790_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, 'W', Eugénie Lichet](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/663810_1_grid.jpg)
'W'
Eugénie Lichet
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Countryside IV., Karol Kállay](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1339539_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Baspa Valley, Samuel Bourne](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/899139_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Plant Study No. 78, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/696948_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Plant Study No. 69, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/696915_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Bloodroot No. 7, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688332_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Wild Rose No. 5, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688329_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Magnolia No. 38, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688323_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Bloodroot No. 6, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688320_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Iris No. 104, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688314_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Iris No. 103, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688293_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Magnolia No. 31, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/684417_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Barren No. 13, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/657702_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Iris No. 90, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/616545_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Surfacing, Charlie Anderson](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/487708_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Cloud, Robbie Cornelissen](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/411103_1_grid.jpg)
Cloud
Robbie Cornelissen
Fine Art Drawings - 240 x 490 cm Fine Art Drawings - 94.5 x 192.9 inch
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![Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Davood Koochaki](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/22822_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, 1838, Noz](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/115714_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Sœur pleurant son frère, James Nachtwey](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1010373_1_grid.jpg)
Sœur pleurant son frère
James Nachtwey
Photography - 38 x 56 x 1 cm Photography - 15 x 22 x 0.4 inch
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![Painting, Hendrix, Docteur Bergman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/658254_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, R2D2 Black and white, Gujuc](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/550066_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Marianne, Sancko](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/519755_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Beach Gateway, Antoine Gaussin](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1304910_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Courant d'air, Daniel Waks](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/61143_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, 004 - American Circus Paris, José Nicolas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1941126_1_grid.jpg)
004 - American Circus Paris
José Nicolas
Photography - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
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![Print, Don't Be A Hard Rock - Lauryn Hill, Mark Drew](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/621192_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Los monstruos de cara, Fefe Talavera](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/245359_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Jour 32 - 4/6, Akiza](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1160796_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Akiza Ohm - Jour 27 - 12/12, Akiza](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1155243_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, Simple things, David Mesguich](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/563902_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Le garçon de café, Hossein Borojeni](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/309694_1_grid.jpg)
Le garçon de café
Hossein Borojeni
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 10.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 4.1 inch
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![Photography, Peter Keetman Portfolio 1936–1960, Peter Keetman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/844977_1_grid.jpg)
Peter Keetman Portfolio 1936–1960
Peter Keetman
Photography - 121.9 x 254 x 0.3 cm Photography - 48 x 100 x 0.1 inch
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![Painting, Magnolia No. 35, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688143_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Magnolia No. 33, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688125_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Magnolia No. 32, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/688110_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Meditation No. 7, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/527582_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Meditation No. 2, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/527579_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Hanging Leaves No. 8, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/527573_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Plant Study No. 17, Elizabeth Becker](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/527537_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Triptyque 'Black Sun', Agnes Roché](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/295306_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Johnny Hallyday. Seul dans la rue à Paris, le 2 Mars 1987, Francis Apesteguy](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/259204_1_grid.jpg)
Johnny Hallyday. Seul dans la rue à Paris, le 2 Mars 1987
Francis Apesteguy
Photography - 42 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
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![Photography, Les princesses, Marie Dorigny](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2165546_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, In Exile, Steve Sabella](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1308024_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Box, Michael Grine](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/672480_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Berserk, Michael Grine](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/672462_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Cabinet of Souls (Armoire à Âmes), Laura Makabresku](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1090335_1_grid.jpg)
Cabinet of Souls (Armoire à Âmes)
Laura Makabresku
Photography - 20 x 20 cm Photography - 7.9 x 7.9 inch
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![Painting, Monochrome noir, Fred Manenc](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/486064_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Fosters Pond, Arno Rafael Minkkinen](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1149342_1_grid.jpg)
Fosters Pond
Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Hip Hop sous la Tour Eiffel, Amadou Gaye](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2146540_1_grid.jpg)
Hip Hop sous la Tour Eiffel
Amadou Gaye
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
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![Photography, Hip Hop sous la Tour Eiffel, Amadou Gaye](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2146492_1_grid.jpg)
Hip Hop sous la Tour Eiffel
Amadou Gaye
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
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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!