Portrait Photography for Sale
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Deseo Insular III
José Sierra
Photography - 91.4 x 55.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 22 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Deseo Insular IV
José Sierra
Photography - 69.9 x 45 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.5 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Deseo Insular XII
José Sierra
Photography - 69.9 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.5 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Lover Man Oh Where Can You Be?
Natasha Zupan
Photography - 152.4 x 135.9 x 5.1 cm Photography - 60 x 53.5 x 2 inch
$5,000
Un'isola nell'aria
Urs Lüthi
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,118
Un'isola nell'aria
Urs Lüthi
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,118
Un'isola nell'aria
Urs Lüthi
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,118
Un'isola nell'aria
Urs Lüthi
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,118
Un'isola nell'aria
Urs Lüthi
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,118
Un'isola nell'aria
Urs Lüthi
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,118
Un'isola nell'aria
Urs Lüthi
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,118
The himba
Faie Davis
Photography - 85.8 x 76.8 x 0.25 cm Photography - 33.8 x 30.2 x 0.1 inch
$1,500
Thom Yorke (2006)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 101 x 152 cm Photography - 39.8 x 59.8 inch
$14,831
Spiritualized (1994)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch
$4,451
Johnny Depp
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$16,777
Goldfinger Sean Connery - James Bond 007
Bob Haswell
Photography - 101 x 51 x 0.01 cm Photography - 39.8 x 20.1 x 0 inch
$889
Miles Davis le célèbre trompettiste en concert, Paris Jazz Festival, 3 novembre 1969. - série Jazz
Philippe Gras
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,063
Architects Anonymous
Alexander Benz
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$2,013
Destruyendo Metáforas #2
Léa Bon
Photography - 50 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 19.69 x 11.81 x 0.1 inch
$1,000
Destruyendo Metáforas
Léa Bon
Photography - 50 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 19.69 x 11.81 x 0.1 inch
$1,000
Occult Games #4
Léa Bon
Photography - 75 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.53 x 19.68 x 0.1 inch
$1,500
Elvis Presley from the Castelloland series.
Paloma Castello
Photography - 69.9 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.5 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,250
Mata Hari
Paloma Castello
Photography - 119.9 x 83.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.2 x 33 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Rudolph Valentino from the Castelloland series.
Paloma Castello
Photography - 119.9 x 83.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.2 x 33 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Marlon Brando from the Castelloland series.
Paloma Castello
Photography - 69.9 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.5 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,250
Teatrino from the Castelloland series.
Paloma Castello
Photography - 69.9 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.5 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,250
Hedy Lamar from the Castelloland series.
Paloma Castello
Photography - 69.9 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.5 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,250
Delirio Exótico #5
Paloma Castello
Photography - 119.9 x 82.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.2 x 32.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,500
Sidney Poitier, from the Castelloland series
Paloma Castello
Photography - 83.8 x 119.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 33 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Marlene Dietrich, from the Castelloland series
Paloma Castello
Photography - 83.8 x 119.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 33 x 47.2 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
James Dean from the Castelloland series
Paloma Castello
Photography - 119.9 x 83.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.2 x 33 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Salvatora mundi
Mathilde Oscar
Photography - 60 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$671
Rosea Salvator Mundi
Mathilde Oscar
Photography - 60 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$671
Dizzy Gillespie
Philippe Gras
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,063
I would have liked to know the world as it was
Idan Wizen
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$2,796
Elvis Presley, Tropical Island
Paloma Castello
Photography - 101.6 x 76.2 x 0.3 cm Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
The Petal of your Skin 004
Ivanna Alejandra Sanchez Moretti
Photography - 60 x 80 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 inch
$895
Aguaje awaiting transport, Dublin
Carlos Pericás
Photography - 18 x 13 cm Photography - 7.1 x 5.1 inch
$185
Lady of Naggaroth 1
Léa Bon
Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Stories Scheherazade Certified XIV
Grzegorz Sikorski
Photography - 45 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$213
Richard Ashcroft (1999)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch
$4,451
Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch
$4,451
R.E.M. Collage (1996)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 76 x 60 cm Photography - 29.9 x 23.6 inch
$3,216
Patricia Arquette (2001)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 76 x 61 cm Photography - 29.9 x 24 inch
$3,216
Daddy G Massive Attack
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 76 x 61 cm Photography - 29.9 x 24 inch
$3,216
Invisible Identity
Robert Jaso
Photography - 57 x 41 x 0.1 cm Photography - 22.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$3,076
Invisible Complexity
Robert Jaso
Photography - 57 x 41 x 0.1 cm Photography - 22.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$3,076
Silent Contradiction
Robert Jaso
Photography - 57 x 41 x 1 cm Photography - 22.4 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch
$3,076
Nameless Mystery
Robert Jaso
Photography - 57 x 41 x 1 cm Photography - 22.4 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch
$3,076
No face, No Identity
Robert Jaso
Photography - 57 x 41 x 1 cm Photography - 22.4 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch
$3,076
A Faceless State
Robert Jaso
Photography - 100 x 100 x 1 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
$2,740
Marguerite Duras
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,244
Jacques Villeret
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,244
Les Nuls en Ripolin
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,244
Johnny Depp Hommage à Robert Mitchum dans la Nuit du chasseur
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,244
Alain Bashung à la main douce
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$2,796
Fabrice Emaer et top modèle
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$3,244
Baiser masqué
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,244
De dos au balcon
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,244
Karl Largerfield soirée Kenzo
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$3,244
Stories Scheherazade Certified XII
Grzegorz Sikorski
Photography - 45 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$213
Stories Scheherazade Certified II
Grzegorz Sikorski
Photography - 45 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$213
Lines that lead to perfection
John Kenny
Photography - 90 x 60 x 2 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$3,310
El Color Grana I
Grzegorz Sikorski
Photography - 35 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$213
Pow wow. Amérique du nord
Dominique Leroy
Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
$1,566
Mon beau miroir. Femme Mursi. Ethiopie
Dominique Leroy
Photography - 70 x 90 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
$1,566
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.