Black and white

Photography, Évasion, Tanguy Mendrisse

Évasion

Tanguy Mendrisse

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$181

Photography, Diamant Noir, Sinden Collier

Diamant Noir

Sinden Collier

Photography - 51 x 41 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20.1 x 16.1 x 0 inch

$1,811

Photography, Grotte de Glace II, Juliette Agnel

Grotte de Glace II

Juliette Agnel

Photography - 90 x 60 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 inch

$4,527

Photography, No77 Spirit, Yevgeniy Repiashenko

No77 Spirit

Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Photography - 91 x 91 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.8 x 35.8 x 0 inch

$1,669

Photography, Sharpness 02, Milen Radev

Sharpness 02

Milen Radev

Photography - 50.6 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.9 x 16 x 0 inch

$837

Photography, Men's World 2, Olha Stepanian

Men's World 2

Olha Stepanian

Photography - 78.7 x 78.7 cm Photography - 31 x 31 inch

$1,850

Photography, Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch, Frank Powolny

Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch

Frank Powolny

Photography - 20.5 x 25.5 x 1 cm Photography - 8.1 x 10 x 0.4 inch

$1,132

Photography, Rhythmogramm 183A, Heinrich Heidersberger

Rhythmogramm 183A

Heinrich Heidersberger

Photography - 59.4 x 42 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0 inch

$1,528

Photography, Marilyn Monroe in Niagara, Bruno Bernard

Marilyn Monroe in Niagara

Bruno Bernard

Photography - 20.5 x 25.5 x 1 cm Photography - 8.1 x 10 x 0.4 inch

$1,132

Photography, Sans titre, Julien Drogoul

Sans titre

Julien Drogoul

Photography - 60 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,018

Photography, Brigitte Bardot dans La Femme et le Pantin, Roger Corbeau

Brigitte Bardot dans La Femme et le Pantin

Roger Corbeau

Photography - 24.5 x 18 x 1 cm Photography - 9.6 x 7.1 x 0.4 inch

$1,132

Photography, Baladjolo, Fatoumata Diabaté

Baladjolo

Fatoumata Diabaté

Photography - 100 x 66 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 26 x 0.8 inch

$3,395

Photography, A view from Untzillatx (Identity Revelations series), Imanol Marrodán

A view from Untzillatx (Identity Revelations series)

Imanol Marrodán

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

$1,018

Photography, 01501- Midway Lights, Simeon Posen

01501- Midway Lights

Simeon Posen

Photography - 25.4 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Photography - 10 x 12 x 2 inch

$900

Photography, Roll, Théo Gosselin

Roll

Théo Gosselin

Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,924

Print, Relinquished, Roger Ballen

Relinquished

Roger Ballen

Print - 90 x 90 x 0.2 cm Print - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

$15,843

Photography, Chrissie Hynde, Paris, Pierre Terrasson

Chrissie Hynde, Paris

Pierre Terrasson

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

$1,697

Photography, Memories and Dreams, Larsen Sotelo

Memories and Dreams

Larsen Sotelo

Photography - 81.3 x 61 cm Photography - 32 x 24 inch

$2,900

Photography, Blanc I, Drew Doggett

Blanc I

Drew Doggett

Photography - 68.6 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27 x 18 x 0.1 inch

$1,650

Photography, Memories, Dan Holmqvist

Memories

Dan Holmqvist

Photography - 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,264

Photography, Femmes #20, Man Ray

Femmes #20

Man Ray

Photography - 30 x 22 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch

$7,876

Photography, Sumo 4, Raynald Najosky

Sumo 4

Raynald Najosky

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,811

Photography, lusclnuS, Louis Blanc

lusclnuS

Louis Blanc

Photography - 70 x 70 x 1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,132

Photography, Beautiful Lies, Brendan North

Beautiful Lies

Brendan North

Photography - 61 x 91.4 cm Photography - 24 x 36 inch

$2,350

Photography, Sun Opera Bridge, Alastair Mc Naughton

Sun Opera Bridge

Alastair Mc Naughton

Photography - 24.5 x 34 cm Photography - 9.6 x 13.4 inch

$57

Photography, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao 1, Antoine Kubler

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao 1

Antoine Kubler

Photography - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$283

Photography, Botanical Studies - The B-Sides - No. 01, Matthias Conrad

Botanical Studies - The B-Sides - No. 01

Matthias Conrad

Photography - 75 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,980

Photography, Passereaux trépassés 1 : Mésange charbonnière, Thierry Robert

Passereaux trépassés 1 : Mésange charbonnière

Thierry Robert

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$430

Photography, E.Doll n°65, Softtwix

E.Doll n°65

Softtwix

Photography - 52 x 78 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20.5 x 30.7 x 0 inch

$1,811

Photography, Loup blanc de face, V Munier

Loup blanc de face

V Munier

Photography - 50 x 75 x 5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 2 inch

$6,993

Fine Art Drawings, Mirada Frontal IV, Teresa Riba

Mirada Frontal IV

Teresa Riba

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 71 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 28 inch

$1,018

Photography, L'Escalier, Christophe Battifero

L'Escalier

Christophe Battifero

Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0.2 inch

$656

Photography, Jump, Mourad Cherifi

Jump

Mourad Cherifi

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.02 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$1,528

Photography, Noor, Daniel Holfeld

Noor

Daniel Holfeld

Photography - 80 x 53 cm Photography - 31.5 x 20.9 inch

$1,358

Photography, Melancholic Tulip, André Kertész

Melancholic Tulip

André Kertész

Photography - 30 x 23 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

$1,697

Photography, Femme rêvée à la pierre, Michel Verna

Femme rêvée à la pierre

Michel Verna

Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,075

Photography, The girl from Seville #4 - Slices of Life Series, Anna Levesh

The girl from Seville #4 - Slices of Life Series

Anna Levesh

Photography - 100 x 75 cm Photography - 39.4 x 29.5 inch

$1,007

Photography, Rue Mouffetard, Uwe Ommer

Rue Mouffetard

Uwe Ommer

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

$1,800

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

Kashi

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm Photography - 26.4 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,301

Print, Urban Symphony, Thomas  Canto

Urban Symphony

Thomas Canto

Print - 70 x 90 cm Print - 27.6 x 35.4 inch

$1,084

Photography, The eyes, Samuel Cueto

The eyes

Samuel Cueto

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

$1,018

Photography, Ensayo, James Sparshatt

Ensayo

James Sparshatt

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

$1,058

Photography, Rolling Stones (1998), Kevin Westenberg

Rolling Stones (1998)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 40 x 51 cm Photography - 15.7 x 20.1 inch

$2,003

Photography, City Palace. Udaipur. Inde., Olivier Perrin

City Palace. Udaipur. Inde.

Olivier Perrin

Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.2 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch

$849

Photography, L'Atelier, D-A Woisard

L'Atelier

D-A Woisard

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

$905

Print, Ein-Stein-Zeit, Joseph Beuys

Ein-Stein-Zeit

Joseph Beuys

Print - 28.5 x 40 x 1 cm Print - 11.2 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$3,395

Photography, Les mariés japonais du pont des arts, José Nicolas

Les mariés japonais du pont des arts

José Nicolas

Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$339

Painting, Sur le sable, Valérie Betoulaud

Sur le sable

Valérie Betoulaud

Painting - 48 x 55 x 1 cm Painting - 18.9 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,471

Photography, The Art of Distortion 7, Paula Golemo

The Art of Distortion 7

Paula Golemo

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

$204

Photography, Brando Bike, Russell Young

Brando Bike

Russell Young

Photography - 93 x 73 x 3 cm Photography - 36.6 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

$14,143

Photography, La valse du réfectoire - série Une Vie de Moine, Jean-François Talivez

La valse du réfectoire - série Une Vie de Moine

Jean-François Talivez

Photography - 23 x 35 x 0.1 cm Photography - 9.1 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$498

Photography, Sans Titre, Jean-François Spricigo

Sans Titre

Jean-François Spricigo

Photography - 27.5 x 27.5 x 1 cm Photography - 10.8 x 10.8 x 0.4 inch

$2,942

Print, M408, Jesús Perea

M408

Jesús Perea

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

$1,663

Photography, Mark Ronson, Noa Grayevsky

Mark Ronson

Noa Grayevsky

Photography - 10.752 x 8.847 x 0.3 cm Photography - 4.2 x 3.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,697

Print, Jim Morrison, Bill Degadans

Jim Morrison

Bill Degadans

Print - 90 x 60 x 0.3 cm Print - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,415

Photography, La montée des eaux, Fabienne Cresens

La montée des eaux

Fabienne Cresens

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

$1,245

Photography, André Villers Photograph of Picasso, André Villers

André Villers Photograph of Picasso

André Villers

Photography - 40.64 x 50.8 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0 inch

$3,961

Photography, Carla Bruni - Gitane - dyptique, Philippe Robert

Carla Bruni - Gitane - dyptique

Philippe Robert

Photography - 105 x 145 x 1 cm Photography - 41.3 x 57.1 x 0.4 inch

$14,145

Photography, Succession, David Yarrow

Succession

David Yarrow

Photography - 180 x 274 x 5 cm Photography - 70.9 x 107.9 x 2 inch

$45,265

Painting, Draff N°410, Parscha Mirghawameddin

Draff N°410

Parscha Mirghawameddin

Painting - 120 x 95 x 0.1 cm Painting - 47.2 x 37.4 x 0 inch

$1,471

Painting, Without title (TP09AP11), Teresa Pera

Without title (TP09AP11)

Teresa Pera

Painting - 76.5 x 58 x 0.1 cm Painting - 30.1 x 22.8 x 0 inch

$1,109

Print, Digging for clams, Slim Aarons

Digging for clams

Slim Aarons

Print - 101 x 101 cm Print - 39.8 x 39.8 inch

$3,751

Photography, Twisted Branch, Jan Gordon

Twisted Branch

Jan Gordon

Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 x 0.4 cm Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.15 inch

$950

Photography, Still Cassius Clay V, Gerry Cranham

Still Cassius Clay V

Gerry Cranham

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

$1,120

Print, Observers, X New Worlds

Observers

X New Worlds

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

$543

Photography, Things aren't always what they seem, On Hansen

Things aren't always what they seem

On Hansen

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

$1,500

Painting, Lanterne Volante, Akiza

Lanterne Volante

Akiza

Painting - 170 x 85 x 2 cm Painting - 66.9 x 33.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,263

Photography, Urbain brutalisme - Digital Art digigraphie, Claire Giraudeau

Urbain brutalisme - Digital Art digigraphie

Claire Giraudeau

Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$170

Photography, London Lovers, Kurt Hurton

London Lovers

Kurt Hurton

Photography - 76.2 x 50.8 cm Photography - 30 x 20 inch

$792

Photography, Grand Ecran 14, Bruno Fournier

Grand Ecran 14

Bruno Fournier

Photography - 17 x 31 x 1 cm Photography - 6.7 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch

$962

Photography, Mada 3, Olivier Le Brun

Mada 3

Olivier Le Brun

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

$1,194

Photography, Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), ise-jingu, Ise city, Mie prefecture, 2023-11, n°1, Teddy Peix

Ki no kioku (Memory of tree), ise-jingu, Ise city, Mie prefecture, 2023-11, n°1

Teddy Peix

Photography - 17 x 20 x 0.01 cm Photography - 6.7 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$306

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled from the series Shifty Packets, Colleen Wolstenholme

Untitled from the series Shifty Packets

Colleen Wolstenholme

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 14.2 inch

$900

Photography, Calligraphing en l'air #6, Cody Choi

Calligraphing en l'air #6

Cody Choi

Photography - 75 x 50 x 1.5 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

$1,996

Photography, In Mood, Switzerland, Mindaugas Gabrenas

In Mood, Switzerland

Mindaugas Gabrenas

Photography - 36 x 36 x 0.1 cm Photography - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0 inch

$1,018

Photography, Marilyn on the Roof, Ed Feingersh

Marilyn on the Roof

Ed Feingersh

Photography - 76.2 x 50.8 cm Photography - 30 x 20 inch

$1,007

Photography, Elvis Presley, Harry Hammond

Elvis Presley

Harry Hammond

Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch

$934

Photography, Nick Cave, Detlev Schneider

Nick Cave

Detlev Schneider

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

$1,018

Photography, Anonymous Face, Darios Tossou

Anonymous Face

Darios Tossou

Photography - 90 x 60 x 0.8 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.3 inch

$2,094

Print, Reprojection I, Tobias Putrih

Reprojection I

Tobias Putrih

Print - 53 x 76 cm Print - 20.9 x 29.9 inch

$1,697

Fine Art Drawings, Des araignées dans le grenier, Michaël Brack

Des araignées dans le grenier

Michaël Brack

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 inch

$792

Print, Territoire Noir/Blanc, Isthme

Territoire Noir/Blanc

Isthme

Print - 76.5 x 57 cm Print - 30.1 x 22.4 inch

$792

Photography, Dont Walk, Karol Kállay

Dont Walk

Karol Kállay

Photography - 30 x 30 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 inch

$1,245

Photography, Tornando con le spese, Novembre 1955 - New York, Fabrizio La Torre

Tornando con le spese, Novembre 1955 - New York

Fabrizio La Torre

Photography - 60 x 42 x 0.5 cm Photography - 23.6 x 16.5 x 0.2 inch

$1,867

Print, Untitled from 'Metafora' portfolio, Ralph Gibson

Untitled from 'Metafora' portfolio

Ralph Gibson

Print - 46.5 x 66 cm Print - 18.3 x 26 inch

$328

Photography, Les amoureux du pavillon Baltard désaffecté, Pierre Boulat

Les amoureux du pavillon Baltard désaffecté

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,132

Photography, HRH Princess Elizabeth With HRH The Prince of Wales, Cecil Beaton

HRH Princess Elizabeth With HRH The Prince of Wales

Cecil Beaton

Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch

$1,317

Photography, Petal hat, John French

Petal hat

John French

Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 cm Photography - 60 x 40 inch

$1,103

Print, Portrait de B, Claude Weisbuch

Portrait de B

Claude Weisbuch

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

$792

Print, Tiepolo 1 (La Danse), Lorenzo Mattotti

Tiepolo 1 (La Danse)

Lorenzo Mattotti

Print - 75.5 x 106 cm Print - 29.7 x 41.7 inch

$453

Photography, Cubic Feet Empaquetages, Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Cubic Feet Empaquetages

Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Photography - 50 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

$5,092

Photography, Victoire Montmorency, Pierre Schwartz

Victoire Montmorency

Pierre Schwartz

Photography - 80 x 80 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 inch

$905

Print, Seb, Unconventional, David Manaud

Seb, Unconventional

David Manaud

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

$113

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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