Black and white

Photography, Richard Ashcroft (1999), Kevin Westenberg

Richard Ashcroft (1999)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992), Kevin Westenberg

Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Pete Doherty, Kevin Westenberg

Pete Doherty

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Paul Weller (1997), Kevin Westenberg

Paul Weller (1997)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Laura and Naomi, Kevin Westenberg

Laura and Naomi

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Depeche Mode, Kevin Westenberg

Depeche Mode

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 61 x 50.8 cm Photography - 24 x 20 inch

$2,356

Photography, David Gilmour, Kevin Westenberg

David Gilmour

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 61 x 76 cm Photography - 24 x 29.9 inch

$3,225

Painting, Untitled - OL1.96, Jean Feinberg

Untitled - OL1.96

Jean Feinberg

Painting - 121.9 x 109.2 cm Painting - 48 x 43 inch

$5,037

Photography, Ritmo en el autobus, James Sparshatt

Ritmo en el autobus

James Sparshatt

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

$668

Photography, Las curvas, James Sparshatt

Las curvas

James Sparshatt

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

$668

Photography, El Barbudo, James Sparshatt

El Barbudo

James Sparshatt

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

$780

Photography, La passerelle du Croaë, Anne-Marie Toporkoff

La passerelle du Croaë

Anne-Marie Toporkoff

Photography - 26 x 45 x 0.2 cm Photography - 10.2 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,066

Print, Telle la hache, Pierre Tal-Coat

Telle la hache

Pierre Tal-Coat

Print - 80 x 63 cm Print - 31.5 x 24.8 inch

$1,346

Photography, Graphisme d'arbre, Mathieu Pujol

Graphisme d'arbre

Mathieu Pujol

Photography - 75 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$954

Photography, The eyes of the boat, Samuel Cueto

The eyes of the boat

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, Swarming mass, Samuel Cueto

Swarming mass

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, Spleen IV, Samuel Cueto

Spleen IV

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, Sacred cow, Samuel Cueto

Sacred cow

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, On the head, Samuel Cueto

On the head

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, Number Eleven, Samuel Cueto

Number Eleven

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, Nap Time, Samuel Cueto

Nap Time

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, Little girls on the street, Samuel Cueto

Little girls on the street

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,010

Photography, Te veo, James Sparshatt

Te veo

James Sparshatt

Photography - 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

$1,040

Photography, Las Memorias, James Sparshatt

Las Memorias

James Sparshatt

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

$1,243

Painting, Cut-Up Paper I.21, Ulla Pedersen

Cut-Up Paper I.21

Ulla Pedersen

Painting - 30 x 30 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 inch

$720

Painting, Test Pattern 6 (Grey study), Tom McGlynn

Test Pattern 6 (Grey study)

Tom McGlynn

Painting - 55.8 x 83.8 cm Painting - 22 x 33 inch

$1,635

Photography, Wall Street, New York City, Leonard Freed

Wall Street, New York City

Leonard Freed

Photography - 48.3 x 33 cm Photography - 19 x 13 inch

$3,000

Painting, Zone blanche (PM11), Palmi Marzaroli

Zone blanche (PM11)

Palmi Marzaroli

Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$1,515

Painting, L'hiver (PM07), Palmi Marzaroli

L'hiver (PM07)

Palmi Marzaroli

Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$898

Photography, Fairy, Cécile Baldewyns

Fairy

Cécile Baldewyns

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

$785

Photography, I am not there, Mihaela Ivanova

I am not there

Mihaela Ivanova

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$595

Print, Composition 119, Henri Michaux

Composition 119

Henri Michaux

Print - 50.5 x 33 cm Print - 19.9 x 13 inch

$1,010

Print, Relleus i signes, Antoni Clavé

Relleus i signes

Antoni Clavé

Print - 57.5 x 77.5 cm Print - 22.6 x 30.5 inch

$1,357

Photography, Un air d exotisme : Mahe Seychelles, Jean-Pierre Fleury

Un air d exotisme : Mahe Seychelles

Jean-Pierre Fleury

Photography - 100 x 100 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 inch

$2,760

Photography, Langage secret, Jean-Pierre Fleury

Langage secret

Jean-Pierre Fleury

Photography - 100 x 100 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 inch

$2,760

Photography, Def Leppard, Kevin Westenberg

Def Leppard

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 152 x 101 cm Photography - 59.8 x 39.8 inch

$14,876

Fine Art Drawings, Vision 11, Gina Vor

Vision 11

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$224

Fine Art Drawings, Vision 10, Gina Vor

Vision 10

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$224

Fine Art Drawings, Vision 9, Gina Vor

Vision 9

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$168

Photography, Mezzogiorno al Pantheon, 1 & 2, Rome, Fabrizio La Torre

Mezzogiorno al Pantheon, 1 & 2, Rome

Fabrizio La Torre

Photography - 57 x 67 x 2 cm Photography - 22.4 x 26.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,603

Print, Feuille, Joan Hernández Pijuan

Feuille

Joan Hernández Pijuan

Print - 64.5 x 54.5 x 1 cm Print - 25.4 x 21.5 x 0.4 inch

$673

Print, Acotaciones 2, Joan Hernández Pijuan

Acotaciones 2

Joan Hernández Pijuan

Print - 56 x 76 x 1 cm Print - 22 x 29.9 x 0.4 inch

$673

Print, Ombra, Joan Hernández Pijuan

Ombra

Joan Hernández Pijuan

Print - 56 x 76 x 1 cm Print - 22 x 29.9 x 0.4 inch

$673

Print, Polychrome 10, Joan Hernández Pijuan

Polychrome 10

Joan Hernández Pijuan

Print - 40 x 59 x 1 cm Print - 15.7 x 23.2 x 0.4 inch

$673

Print, Faces 1 & 2, Hush

Faces 1 & 2

Hush

Print - 30 x 46 cm Print - 11.8 x 18.1 inch

$909

Print, Toro II screenprint, Marc Prat

Toro II screenprint

Marc Prat

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

$314

Photography, Ali I, Gerry Cranham

Ali I

Gerry Cranham

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

$1,111

Print, Music Notes (Party At The Moontower), Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Music Notes (Party At The Moontower)

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$280

Photography, Catherine Deneuve à Venise, Italie,, Vittorio Pavan

Catherine Deneuve à Venise, Italie,

Vittorio Pavan

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

$785

Print, M228, Jesús Perea

M228

Jesús Perea

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

$1,635

Print, M271, Jesús Perea

M271

Jesús Perea

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

$1,635

Print, M420, Jesús Perea

M420

Jesús Perea

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

$1,635

Photography, La mirada, James Sparshatt

La mirada

James Sparshatt

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

$778

Painting, N°50-22 11 (NG63), Nicolas Galtier

N°50-22 11 (NG63)

Nicolas Galtier

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,010

Painting, Swipe 3, Anne Russinof

Swipe 3

Anne Russinof

Painting - 30 x 23 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.1 inch

$1,112

Photography, Tina Turner, Los Angeles, Glen Craig

Tina Turner, Los Angeles

Glen Craig

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

$1,500

Photography, Tina Turner Smiling with Ikettes, Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, November 23, Glen Craig

Tina Turner Smiling with Ikettes, Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, November 23

Glen Craig

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

$1,500

Photography, BB King Kodalith Performance - Close up, LA Forum, Glen Craig

BB King Kodalith Performance - Close up, LA Forum

Glen Craig

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

$1,750

Photography, Iggy Pop, Ann Arbor, MI, 1968, Glen Craig

Iggy Pop, Ann Arbor, MI, 1968

Glen Craig

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

$1,500

Photography, Tina Turner, Los Angeles, CA, Glen Craig

Tina Turner, Los Angeles, CA

Glen Craig

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

$1,500

Photography, Miles Davis, Fillmore East, NYC, June 17, 1970 III, Glen Craig

Miles Davis, Fillmore East, NYC, June 17, 1970 III

Glen Craig

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

$1,500

Photography, Audrey Hepburn Profile, Bert Stern

Audrey Hepburn Profile

Bert Stern

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

$4,375

Photography, The capability to transform into any shape, On Hansen

The capability to transform into any shape

On Hansen

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

$1,500

Photography, Just JAZZ, Karol Kállay

Just JAZZ

Karol Kállay

Photography - 41 x 50 cm Photography - 16.1 x 19.7 inch

$3,590

Photography, Before the mess, Tanguy Mendrisse

Before the mess

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

$886

Photography, Rufus Wainwright (2010), Kevin Westenberg

Rufus Wainwright (2010)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 60 x 51 cm Photography - 23.6 x 20.1 inch

$2,356

Photography, Robert Plant (1993), Kevin Westenberg

Robert Plant (1993)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Rick Rubin (2013), Kevin Westenberg

Rick Rubin (2013)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 61 x 51 cm Photography - 24 x 20.1 inch

$2,356

Photography, Nick Cave, Kevin Westenberg

Nick Cave

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Michael Stipe, Kevin Westenberg

Michael Stipe

Kevin Westenberg

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

$4,465

Photography, Mary J Blige, Kevin Westenberg

Mary J Blige

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 61 x 51 cm Photography - 24 x 20.1 inch

$2,356

Photography, Jake Bugg, Kevin Westenberg

Jake Bugg

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76 x 101 cm Photography - 29.9 x 39.8 inch

$4,465

Photography, Ian McCulloch Echo and the Bunnymen, Kevin Westenberg

Ian McCulloch Echo and the Bunnymen

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76 x 61 cm Photography - 29.9 x 24 inch

$3,225

Photography, Henry Rollins, Kevin Westenberg

Henry Rollins

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Erykah Badu, Kevin Westenberg

Erykah Badu

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, Erykah Badu, Kevin Westenberg

Erykah Badu

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76 x 61 cm Photography - 29.9 x 24 inch

$3,225

Photography, Elbow, Kevin Westenberg

Elbow

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76 x 101 cm Photography - 29.9 x 39.8 inch

$4,465

Photography, Eddie Vedder, Kevin Westenberg

Eddie Vedder

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 51 x 61 cm Photography - 20.1 x 24 inch

$2,356

Photography, David Lynch, Kevin Westenberg

David Lynch

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76 x 61 cm Photography - 29.9 x 24 inch

$3,225

Photography, David Gilmour, Kevin Westenberg

David Gilmour

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76 x 101 cm Photography - 29.9 x 39.8 inch

$4,465

Photography, David Gilmour, Kevin Westenberg

David Gilmour

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76 x 61 cm Photography - 29.9 x 24 inch

$3,225

Photography, Brett Anderson, Kevin Westenberg

Brett Anderson

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 76.2 x 61 cm Photography - 30 x 24 inch

$3,225

Photography, Bono, Kevin Westenberg

Bono

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 61 x 76.2 cm Photography - 24 x 30 inch

$3,225

Photography, Blur Damon Albarn, Kevin Westenberg

Blur Damon Albarn

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 61 x 50.8 cm Photography - 24 x 20 inch

$2,356

Photography, B. B. King, Kevin Westenberg

B. B. King

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 101 x 76 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 inch

$4,465

Photography, B. B. King, Kevin Westenberg

B. B. King

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 61 x 76 cm Photography - 24 x 29.9 inch

$3,223

Photography, B. B. King, Kevin Westenberg

B. B. King

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 51 x 61 cm Photography - 20.1 x 24 inch

$2,356

Photography, Reflecting landscape 12, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Reflecting landscape 12

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 80 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 31.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$1,571

Photography, Reflecting landscape 10, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Reflecting landscape 10

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 80 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$1,571

Photography, Reflecting landscape 09, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Reflecting landscape 09

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 80 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$1,571

Photography, Reflecting landscape 08, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Reflecting landscape 08

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 80 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$1,571

Photography, Reflecting landscape 07, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Reflecting landscape 07

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 80 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$1,571

Photography, Reflecting landscape 06, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Reflecting landscape 06

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 80 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$1,571

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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