White

Print, Gordium (Méandre), Victor Vasarely

Gordium (Méandre)

Victor Vasarely

Print - 83 x 83 x 0.1 cm

$2,033

Design, Breeze - Arm Chair, Poonam Choudhary

Breeze - Arm Chair

Poonam Choudhary

Design - 73.7 x 65 x 82 cm

$1,200

Print, Burroughs 100 years, Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Burroughs 100 years

Shepard Fairey (Obey)

Print - 61 x 46 x 0.2 cm

$903

Print, Free Flow, James Ulmer

Free Flow

James Ulmer

Print - 70.1 x 50 x 2 cm

$1,850

Painting, Untitled, David Paul Kay

Untitled

David Paul Kay

Painting - 60 x 45 x 3 cm

$3,727

Painting, 3 Bassins - Numéro 1, Louis Bottero

3 Bassins - Numéro 1

Louis Bottero

Painting - 40 x 59 x 2 cm

$1,581

Sculpture, Vegas pop art black fashion, Christophe Comerro

Vegas pop art black fashion

Christophe Comerro

Sculpture - 41 x 30 x 45 cm

$1,333

Painting, Santé, Jérôme Mesnager

Santé

Jérôme Mesnager

Painting - 55 x 46 x 1 cm

$1,355

Painting, Distrait, Fabrice Leito

Distrait

Fabrice Leito

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm

$3,840

Painting, Hollywood Glamour, Yasna Godovanik

Hollywood Glamour

Yasna Godovanik

Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm

$1,412 $819

Sculpture, 35cm Teddy CH Tribute, Chrome White, Naor

35cm Teddy CH Tribute, Chrome White

Naor

Sculpture - 35 x 25 x 28 cm

$1,321

Painting, Substrato, BB.Queen

Substrato

BB.Queen

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm

$1,129

Design, 3D Little Big Space, Invader

3D Little Big Space

Invader

Design - 28 x 20 x 4 cm

$2,259

Painting, Behind the mask, Grégoire Devin

Behind the mask

Grégoire Devin

Painting - 207 x 207 x 5.1 cm

$13,200

Fine Art Drawings, La dormeuse, Magdalena Lamri

La dormeuse

Magdalena Lamri

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$1,220

Painting, Thy Brother's Keeper, Eniafe Gbenga

Thy Brother's Keeper

Eniafe Gbenga

Painting - 91.4 x 61 x 2.5 cm

$2,000 $1,700

Painting, Cerisiers blancs, Jeong Min Lee

Cerisiers blancs

Jeong Min Lee

Painting - 114 x 146 x 2 cm

$1,581

Painting, Sans titre, Jo Di Bona

Sans titre

Jo Di Bona

Painting - 29 x 20 x 0.3 cm

$1,355

Painting, Light as water, Francesca Borgo

Light as water

Francesca Borgo

Painting - 70 x 100 x 0.1 cm

$2,080

Sculpture, Standing bear, Richard Orlinski

Standing bear

Richard Orlinski

Sculpture - 30 x 17 x 18 cm

$6,211

Painting, Winter's Silent Shroud, Hayk Miqayelyan

Winter's Silent Shroud

Hayk Miqayelyan

Painting - 50 x 60 x 2 cm

$890

Painting, Defile de reception, Christos Kalfas

Defile de reception

Christos Kalfas

Painting - 40 x 50 cm

$2,033

Painting, Sans titre, Jean Miotte

Sans titre

Jean Miotte

Painting - 37.5 x 27.5 x 1 cm

$2,033

Painting, Noir miroir nr 002, Kardesch

Noir miroir nr 002

Kardesch

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm

$1,073

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Karls

Sans titre

Karls

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm

$960 $864

Painting, Spring walk, Arevik Gasparyan

Spring walk

Arevik Gasparyan

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm

$1,200

Sculpture, Le mal classique ( Jean Paul Gaultier ), Flo Hombecq

Le mal classique ( Jean Paul Gaultier )

Flo Hombecq

Sculpture - 36 x 22 x 16 cm

$1,355

Painting, Accords et Suspensions IV, Jean-Claude Atzori

Accords et Suspensions IV

Jean-Claude Atzori

Painting - 65 x 92 x 1 cm

$1,694

Painting, Gliding Towards Tomorrow, Kpe Innocent

Gliding Towards Tomorrow

Kpe Innocent

Painting - 80 x 80 x 5 cm

$5,082

Fine Art Drawings, M16 USA, André Robillard

M16 USA

André Robillard

Fine Art Drawings - 47 x 68 x 0.1 cm

$2,033

Painting, Torero (1), Bertrand de Visme

Torero (1)

Bertrand de Visme

Painting - 65 x 50 x 1 cm

$1,073

Painting, Sans titre, Khadija Tnana

Sans titre

Khadija Tnana

Painting - 96 x 65 x 2 cm

$2,372

Painting, Relax with a Coffee, Sona Adalyan

Relax with a Coffee

Sona Adalyan

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm

$881

Design, Ronds dans l'eau (1), Seth

Ronds dans l'eau (1)

Seth

Design - 28 x 15 x 5 cm

$1,468

Painting, Eugénie, Karo Trass

Eugénie

Karo Trass

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm

$113

Painting, Pinkie with Green Marks, Liz Zorn

Pinkie with Green Marks

Liz Zorn

Painting - 86.4 x 78.7 x 2.5 cm

$1,575

Sculpture, Crayons 0723, Bernard Saint-Maxent

Crayons 0723

Bernard Saint-Maxent

Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 3 cm

$519

Photography, Beta Collage 71, Michael Filonow

Beta Collage 71

Michael Filonow

Photography - 50.8 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm

$760

Painting, Tayssy, Sébastien Allart

Tayssy

Sébastien Allart

Painting - 81 x 65 x 2 cm

$1,920

Painting, Mild Blush, Max Kulich

Mild Blush

Max Kulich

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm

$1,400

Painting, New Girl, Peggy-Lee Mensen

New Girl

Peggy-Lee Mensen

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm

$1,355

Photography, Maestria, Luz

Maestria

Luz

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.03 cm

$1,355

Painting, Street art or graffiti, Juan Spray

Street art or graffiti

Juan Spray

Painting - 130 x 97 x 3 cm

$1,355

Painting, Tribute to Picasso, M. Asuncion Raventos

Tribute to Picasso

M. Asuncion Raventos

Painting - 97 x 146 x 3 cm

$3,162

Painting, Zebras under the African sky, PickWick

Zebras under the African sky

PickWick

Painting - 120 x 40 x 2 cm

$903 $813

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 66, Lucio Forte

Untitled 66

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 33 x 0.1 cm

$113

Painting, Decadencia, David Albert

Decadencia

David Albert

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm

$1,581

Painting, 20.07, Mccain McMurray

20.07

Mccain McMurray

Painting - 66 x 33 x 4.6 cm

$950

Painting, Emergence, Nef

Emergence

Nef

Painting - 52.5 x 75 x 0.1 cm

$2,823

Sculpture, Altamar [Open Sea], Natasha Vázquez

Altamar [Open Sea]

Natasha Vázquez

Sculpture - 72 x 72 x 8 cm

$794

Fine Art Drawings, Le Cordier, Paul de Chatelperron

Le Cordier

Paul de Chatelperron

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 114 x 2 cm

$2,136

Fine Art Drawings, Self-portrait on fruit, Julien Delagrange

Self-portrait on fruit

Julien Delagrange

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$2,033

Painting, Continent Américain, Clara Castagné

Continent Américain

Clara Castagné

Painting - 110 x 92 x 2.5 cm

$5,082

Sculpture, L'étranger - série Sculpture portrait de femme, Chantal Nottrelet

L'étranger - série Sculpture portrait de femme

Chantal Nottrelet

Sculpture - 39 x 10 x 12 cm

$565

Print, Young Poet, Hrair Gharib

Young Poet

Hrair Gharib

Print - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$147

Sculpture, Packaging, Salvo Alibrio

Packaging

Salvo Alibrio

Sculpture - 23 x 14 x 5.5 cm

$226

Painting, Linea nera, Steso Primo

Linea nera

Steso Primo

Painting - 70 x 50 x 3 cm

$1,056

Painting, Shivaya, Greg Bryce

Shivaya

Greg Bryce

Painting - 100 x 120 x 3 cm

$1,988

Painting, Portage, Chantal Proulx

Portage

Chantal Proulx

Painting - 102 x 102 x 4 cm

$1,825

Print, Sans titre 4, Vincent Mauger

Sans titre 4

Vincent Mauger

Print - 74 x 103.5 cm

$1,581

Painting, Coco, Foucaud Stéphane

Coco

Foucaud Stéphane

Painting - 99.5 x 80 x 4 cm

$1,717

Painting, Abstract, Ellis Jacobson

Abstract

Ellis Jacobson

Painting - 31 x 42 x 0.3 cm

$1,355

Painting, Blender, Milo Schepers

Blender

Milo Schepers

Painting - 150 x 125 x 0.1 cm

$903

Print, Marilyn I, Blank Barbie

Marilyn I

Blank Barbie

Print - 76 x 76 x 0.01 cm

$2,372

Painting, Sin título, Miquel Ponce

Sin título

Miquel Ponce

Painting - 65 x 50 x 4 cm

$903

Sculpture, Modou, blanc jaune, Baptiste Laurent

Modou, blanc jaune

Baptiste Laurent

Sculpture - 20 x 15 x 7 cm

$847

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 1, David Paul Kay

Untitled 1

David Paul Kay

Fine Art Drawings - 16 x 16 x 0.1 cm

$678

Painting, Tomorrow (5), The Catman

Tomorrow (5)

The Catman

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3.5 cm

$1,355

Photography, Poolside Ladies, Slim Aarons

Poolside Ladies

Slim Aarons

Photography - 76 x 101 x 0.01 cm

$3,501

Design, Totems, Thalia Dalecky

Totems

Thalia Dalecky

Design - 40 x 23 x 7 cm

$1,355

Painting, En terrasse au flore, Duytter

En terrasse au flore

Duytter

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm

$5,082

Painting, Eclosion, Paskal Hotman

Eclosion

Paskal Hotman

Painting - 120 x 106 x 2 cm

$2,134

Painting, I gotta feeling, Isabelle Rivest

I gotta feeling

Isabelle Rivest

Painting - 76.2 x 76.2 x 5.1 cm

$1,000

Sculpture, Dis-moi oui, Virginia Benedicto

Dis-moi oui

Virginia Benedicto

Sculpture - 30 x 28 x 28 cm

$2,146

Sculpture, Skate Mr Hope upcycling, MrHope

Skate Mr Hope upcycling

MrHope

Sculpture - 80 x 20 x 2 cm

$226

Print, When looking at this with closed eyes (dyptique), Shusaku Arakawa

When looking at this with closed eyes (dyptique)

Shusaku Arakawa

Print - 105 x 146 x 0.1 cm

$1,581 $1,344

Sculpture, Baiser suspendu, Thalia Dalecky

Baiser suspendu

Thalia Dalecky

Sculpture - 41 x 39 x 39 cm

$1,468

Painting, Mouvements sacrés n°8, Gauthier Bruel

Mouvements sacrés n°8

Gauthier Bruel

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.5 cm

$847 $762

Painting, Marée basse à Le Palais - Série village et port de Belle-île-en-mer, Yves Guillard

Marée basse à Le Palais - Série village et port de Belle-île-en-mer

Yves Guillard

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm

$2,117

Sculpture, Beige Ribbon, Timothy Carter

Beige Ribbon

Timothy Carter

Sculpture - 50 x 18 x 18 cm

$2,936

Painting, Dumont d'Urville, Marie Détrée

Dumont d'Urville

Marie Détrée

Painting - 89 x 116 x 2 cm

$5,421

Painting, James Dean, DéheL B (DLB)

James Dean

DéheL B (DLB)

Painting - 61 x 50 x 1.5 cm

$294

Painting, Díptico desliz, Esther Argelich

Díptico desliz

Esther Argelich

Painting - 65 x 50 x 1 cm

$1,355

Painting, Untitled, Lila Maroun Frem

Untitled

Lila Maroun Frem

Painting - 27.5 x 21 x 0.1 cm

$282

Painting, The late night talking 3, Luca Brandi

The late night talking 3

Luca Brandi

Painting - 111.8 x 76.2 x 0.3 cm

$2,510

Painting, Hypnose, Sandrine Hartmann

Hypnose

Sandrine Hartmann

Painting - 100 x 80 x 4 cm

$881

Painting, Chiaruscoro of still life, Lisbeth Buonanno

Chiaruscoro of still life

Lisbeth Buonanno

Painting - 40 x 50 x 1.8 cm

$1,355

Design, Broken Mirror White, Daniel Arsham

Broken Mirror White

Daniel Arsham

Design - 30 x 18 x 10 cm

$847

Painting, Natural Flow Series n11, Rosario Briones

Natural Flow Series n11

Rosario Briones

Painting - 99.8 x 69.9 x 0.3 cm

$1,600

Painting, Mon loft à Brooklyn, Nelson Fabiano

Mon loft à Brooklyn

Nelson Fabiano

Painting - 30 x 60 x 4 cm

$1,355

White

In physics, white is the sum of all the colours. To the human eye, white appears to be the total absence of colour. Amongst artists, white and its many uses in art are continuously evolving and challenging those who would embrace them. Is white, then, a non-colour, or an enhancer of colours? Intangible or material? Absence or excess?

Since Antiquity, white has been appreciated for its symbolic value. In Ancient Greece, where they would paint their statues, it was a sign of incompletion, whereas the Romans believed it showed pomp and imperialist virtue. With the rise of Christianity, white was used in opposition to black in order to emphasise moral dichotomies: the pure, divine white against the darkness. In some cases, however, white was used to show sickness or death, most notably in the pallid representations of the skeletal, crucified Christ.

In the Renaissance white was used to sublimate faces and backgrounds. Da Vinci even based his sfumato technique on the soft transition from light into darkness. Throughout the history of painting, white was considered precious for its ability to reflect light. It attracts the gaze even when used in the tiniest quantities, and illuminates the subject, drawing out stunning contrasts as seen in the works of Rembrandt, or in Vermeer's famous Girl with the Pearl Earring.

With the rise of Impressionism, white was used as the brightest tone amongst shades of grey. While Manet produced canvases which were forerunners to monochromes, including The Reader, which was almost pure white, Monet delivered a stunning gradient of whites whilst recreating the snow at his home in Giverny. The first true white monochrome appeared with the arrival of Malevitch's White Square on a White Background. The artist said 'I have broken the blue boundary of colour limits, and come out into the white'.

 

Modernists were equally passionate about white and valued it incredibly highly. Miro in particular questioned the status of white on canvases. In his painting Woman, Bird and Star white is in parts boldly painted, but is also distinctive for its absence around the star. Picasso, on the other hand, explored white in conjunction with his famous coloured periods. Piero Manzoni became famous thanks to his 'achromatic' paintings, a series of canvases produced exclusively in shades of white. Moving into the 20th century, white became synonymous with minimalist abstraction. For artists like Kandinsky, white was a cosmic colour, associated with a spiritual search for the absolute, guiding the artists as he seek to express his emotions.  

 

Today, white remains an ever popular subject. Roman Opalka made his name creating a series of white numbers of a white background, while Daniel Arsham reinvents white walls in galleries by letting his artwork drip down onto them. White is a colour with multiple symbolic interpretations. The colour of divinity or humility; of purity and immaculate, of emptiness and absence, but always colour. If blue has Klein and red has Rothko, it appears that no artist has yet succeeded in fully mastering white – but maybe you'll find them in our selection!


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