Black and White Portraits
The allure of black and white. Color can articulate reality and reflect realism, but taking it away focuses on contrast and the use of monochromatic tone to set an atmosphere that draws the viewer in. This increase in impact has been harnessed by photographers since the first successful black and white images were taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in the early 19th century, leading to further success in 1825 when he managed to produce a black and white image of a window. Naturally colored photographs would not be developed until 1891 when Lipmann Gabriel applied the phenomenon of optical light wave interface. And yet, the black and white photograph continued, particularly in portraiture. Why? Practically, black and white photographs have a longer archival shelf-life but artistically, color isn't needed to capture the emotion, depth, expression and indeed reality through dramatic tone and contrast of the figure in front of the lens. You only need to recant Dorothea Lange's widely circulated Migrant Mother (1936) to see how a single black and white portrait can become a symbol of plight. In our works, artists like Maud Bernos and James Sparshatt favor portraits devoid of color… portraits that draw you the viewer in and leave you to fall into their enduring monochromatic depths.
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Spring amidst the beech
James Sparshatt
Photography - 60 x 85 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 33.5 x 0 inch
€1,421
The house on the marsh
James Sparshatt
Photography - 60 x 85 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 33.5 x 0 inch
€1,421
Frosted reeds
James Sparshatt
Photography - 60 x 85 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 33.5 x 0 inch
€1,421
La dama de la plaza
James Sparshatt
Photography - 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch
€859
La celebracion
James Sparshatt
Photography - 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
€982
Self portrait #1
Cody Choi
Photography - 75 x 50 x 1.5 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
€3,707
The Skelligs by moonlight
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 75 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 inch
€1,174
Sands of the Himalaya
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 75 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 inch
€1,174
Above the Clouds #1
Cody Choi
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.1 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0 inch
€809
Los Vientos
James Sparshatt
Photography - 150 x 180 x 3 cm Photography - 59.1 x 70.9 x 1.2 inch
€8,588
Kuwait modern old city
Ali Buhamad
Photography - 50 x 40 x 5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 2 inch
€1,000
Las Memorías
James Sparshatt
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
€3,089
Sonhos Silenciosos
James Sparshatt
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
€3,089
TRipOdiS - Collection cORpuS
Louis Blanc
Photography - 70 x 70 cm Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 inch
€1,000
The southern gentleman
James Sparshatt
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
€3,089
CyClOpS - Format L
Louis Blanc
Photography - 70 x 70 x 1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch
€5,250
Above the clouds #5
Cody Choi
Photography - 50.8 x 76.2 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 30 x 0 inch
€618
Above the clouds #4
Cody Choi
Photography - 50.8 x 76.2 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 30 x 0 inch
€618
Pulchrum foruM - Format M
Louis Blanc
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
€900
Above the Clouds #3
Cody Choi
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.1 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0 inch
€809
Above the Clouds #2
Cody Choi
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.1 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0 inch
€809
Gondoles face à la Salute, Venise
Michel Pinel
Photography - 50.5 x 40.5 cm Photography - 19.9 x 15.9 inch
€350
Center Stage
Alexander Benz
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
€1,800
Architects Anonymous
Alexander Benz
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
€1,800
Dans le Metro
Alexander Benz
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
€1,800
Structural Beauty
Alexander Benz
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
€460
Going In Circles
Alexander Benz
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
€460
Light In The Dark
Alexander Benz
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
€460
Architects Anonymous
Alexander Benz
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
€460
Shades of Grey
Alexander Benz
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
€460
L'attente - Hotel Métropole Bruxelles
Michel Pinel
Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
€290