Black and white

Photography, Nenneh Cherry, Detlev Schneider

Nenneh Cherry

Detlev Schneider

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

$1,023

Photography, 1972 Vienna Muse 7, Florian Hunger-Pegof

1972 Vienna Muse 7

Florian Hunger-Pegof

Photography - 18 x 24 x 0.5 cm Photography - 7.1 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

$2,217 $1,108

Photography, 1972 Vienna Muse 5, Florian Hunger-Pegof

1972 Vienna Muse 5

Florian Hunger-Pegof

Photography - 24 x 18 x 0.5 cm Photography - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch

$2,217

Photography, 1972 Vienna Muse 4, Florian Hunger-Pegof

1972 Vienna Muse 4

Florian Hunger-Pegof

Photography - 24 x 18 x 0.5 cm Photography - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch

$2,217

Photography, 1972 Vienna Muse 3 Vue du ciel, Florian Hunger-Pegof

1972 Vienna Muse 3 Vue du ciel

Florian Hunger-Pegof

Photography - 24 x 18 x 0.5 cm Photography - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch

$2,217

Photography, 1972 Vienna Muse 2 Vue du ciel, Florian Hunger-Pegof

1972 Vienna Muse 2 Vue du ciel

Florian Hunger-Pegof

Photography - 24 x 18 x 0.5 cm Photography - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch

$2,217

Photography, 1972 Vienna Muse 1, Florian Hunger-Pegof

1972 Vienna Muse 1

Florian Hunger-Pegof

Photography - 24 x 18 x 0.5 cm Photography - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch

$2,217 $1,108

Photography, 1972 Vienna Muse My Love My Queen, Florian Hunger-Pegof

1972 Vienna Muse My Love My Queen

Florian Hunger-Pegof

Photography - 24 x 18 x 0.3 cm Photography - 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$2,217

Photography, 1915 La Haine Hatred Vintage Photo of a famous painting by VALLOTTON, Eugène Druet

1915 La Haine Hatred Vintage Photo of a famous painting by VALLOTTON

Eugène Druet

Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch

$2,217

Photography, 1915 Légumes Vegetables, Eugène Druet

1915 Légumes Vegetables

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$2,217

Photography, Nature morte Poireaux 1911 Leeks Still life, Eugène Druet

Nature morte Poireaux 1911 Leeks Still life

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 x 0.5 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 x 0.2 inch

$1,648 $824

Photography, 1915 FRUITS, Eugène Druet

1915 FRUITS

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$2,217 $1,108

Photography, 1915 Pommes Apples, Eugène Druet

1915 Pommes Apples

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 x 0.5 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 x 0.2 inch

$2,217 $1,108

Photography, 1915 Raisins Grapes, Eugène Druet

1915 Raisins Grapes

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,989 $995

Photography, 1915 Fruits et pichet, Eugène Druet

1915 Fruits et pichet

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,876 $938

Photography, 1915 Fleurs Citron Flowers Lemon, Eugène Druet

1915 Fleurs Citron Flowers Lemon

Eugène Druet

Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch

$2,217

Photography, 1911 Meules de foin Haystacks, Eugène Druet

1911 Meules de foin Haystacks

Eugène Druet

Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch

$1,648

Photography, 1911 Maison de campagne Country house, Eugène Druet

1911 Maison de campagne Country house

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,648

Photography, 1915 Escalier du village Village Stairs, Eugène Druet

1915 Escalier du village Village Stairs

Eugène Druet

Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch

$1,989

Photography, 1915 Mer et pierres Sea and stones, Eugène Druet

1915 Mer et pierres Sea and stones

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,648

Photography, 1915 Nuages Clouds, Eugène Druet

1915 Nuages Clouds

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,648

Photography, 1915 Maison normande Normandy house, Eugène Druet

1915 Maison normande Normandy house

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,648

Photography, 1915 Les Pommiers Apple Trees, Eugène Druet

1915 Les Pommiers Apple Trees

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,648

Photography, 1908 Bouquet d'arbres Trees, Eugène Druet

1908 Bouquet d'arbres Trees

Eugène Druet

Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch

$1,762

Photography, 1910 Forêt  Forest, Eugène Druet

1910 Forêt Forest

Eugène Druet

Photography - 59 x 50 cm Photography - 23.2 x 19.7 inch

$1,648 $824

Photography, 1909 Arbre tourmenté Tormented tree, Eugène Druet

1909 Arbre tourmenté Tormented tree

Eugène Druet

Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.5 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

$2,217 $1,108

Photography, 1915 Sous-bois Undergrowth, Eugène Druet

1915 Sous-bois Undergrowth

Eugène Druet

Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$1,648

Photography, 1915 Paysage  Landscape, Eugène Druet

1915 Paysage Landscape

Eugène Druet

Photography - 59 x 50 x 0.5 cm Photography - 23.2 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

$1,648

Photography, Marilyn Getting Ready To Go Out in New York (1955), Ed Feingersh

Marilyn Getting Ready To Go Out in New York (1955)

Ed Feingersh

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

$898

Photography, Tania Mallet, John French

Tania Mallet

John French

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

$1,461

Photography, Power struggle, Jean-François Talivez

Power struggle

Jean-François Talivez

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

$1,000

Painting, Double Wave Black, Cristina Ghetti

Double Wave Black

Cristina Ghetti

Painting - 35 x 55 cm Painting - 13.8 x 21.7 inch

$3,337

Fine Art Drawings, Durer chez l'ocultiste, Bruno Mallart

Durer chez l'ocultiste

Bruno Mallart

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 22 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 8.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,137

Painting, Un profond sommeil, Âme Sauvage

Un profond sommeil

Âme Sauvage

Painting - 54 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 21.3 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$625

Painting, Melting pot, Pierre Auville

Melting pot

Pierre Auville

Painting - 76 x 120 x 7 cm Painting - 29.9 x 47.2 x 2.8 inch

$2,670

Photography, Le Volleyeur, Julie Peiffer

Le Volleyeur

Julie Peiffer

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.04 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$682

Fine Art Drawings, Storm Series Horizontal 82, Jaanika Peerna

Storm Series Horizontal 82

Jaanika Peerna

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 92 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 36.2 inch

$3,804

Fine Art Drawings, Maelstrom Series 67, Jaanika Peerna

Maelstrom Series 67

Jaanika Peerna

Fine Art Drawings - 91.5 x 91.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 36 inch

$5,273

Photography, Gravity Liquid 02 (Medium), Seb Janiak

Gravity Liquid 02 (Medium)

Seb Janiak

Photography - 110 x 86 cm Photography - 43.3 x 33.9 inch

$4,672

Fine Art Drawings, Maelstrom Series 77, Jaanika Peerna

Maelstrom Series 77

Jaanika Peerna

Fine Art Drawings - 92 x 92 cm Fine Art Drawings - 36.2 x 36.2 inch

$5,273

Photography, Le concours, Gérard Uféras

Le concours

Gérard Uféras

Photography - 40 x 50 x 5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

$1,819

Photography, The Poligon, Leo Matiz

The Poligon

Leo Matiz

Photography - 33 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 13 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch

$2,000

Photography, La série : Orogenèse - Jackson, Joan Fontcuberta

La série : Orogenèse - Jackson

Joan Fontcuberta

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

$11,368

Photography, Magnetic Radiation 99 (Medium), Seb Janiak

Magnetic Radiation 99 (Medium)

Seb Janiak

Photography - 120 x 90 cm Photography - 47.2 x 35.4 inch

$4,672

Photography, Lyana au miroir, Julie Peiffer

Lyana au miroir

Julie Peiffer

Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$796

Photography, Anissa, Gérard Uféras

Anissa

Gérard Uféras

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

$2,046

Print, Énigme, Frederic Amat

Énigme

Frederic Amat

Print - 77 x 56 cm Print - 30.3 x 22 inch

$568

Print, Énigme 3, Frederic Amat

Énigme 3

Frederic Amat

Print - 77 x 56 cm Print - 30.3 x 22 inch

$909

Photography, Tina Turner On Stage, Mick Rock

Tina Turner On Stage

Mick Rock

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

$2,245

Photography, Peter Gabriel, Mick Rock

Peter Gabriel

Mick Rock

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

$2,245

Photography, Mercury And May, Mick Rock

Mercury And May

Mick Rock

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

$2,245

Photography, Madonna, Mick Rock

Madonna

Mick Rock

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

$2,245

Photography, Lou Reed Transformer, Mick Rock

Lou Reed Transformer

Mick Rock

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

$2,245

Photography, Lou Reed And Andy Warhol, Mick Rock

Lou Reed And Andy Warhol

Mick Rock

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

$2,245

Photography, François Truffaut, Paris, Pierre Boulat

François Truffaut, Paris

Pierre Boulat

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

$1,705

Photography, La Halle aux vins de Bercy, Pierre Boulat

La Halle aux vins de Bercy

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$796

Photography, En bordure de Central Park, New York, Pierre Boulat

En bordure de Central Park, New York

Pierre Boulat

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

$739

Photography, Le repos des bikers, Los Angeles, Pierre Boulat

Le repos des bikers, Los Angeles

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$853

Photography, Les adieux de Leningrad, Pierre Boulat

Les adieux de Leningrad

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$853

Photography, L’Académie militaire, West Point, États-Unis, la parade finale, Pierre Boulat

L’Académie militaire, West Point, États-Unis, la parade finale

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$796

Photography, Inauguration de la chapelle Le Corbusier à Rongchamp, Pierre Boulat

Inauguration de la chapelle Le Corbusier à Rongchamp

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$739

Photography, Felouques sur le nil, Pierre Boulat

Felouques sur le nil

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$909

Photography, Noce berrichonne, la parade dans le village, Pierre Boulat

Noce berrichonne, la parade dans le village

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$853

Photography, Les Halles, Paris, Pierre Boulat

Les Halles, Paris

Pierre Boulat

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

$739

Photography, De l'Autre côté du mur, Berlin, Pierre Boulat

De l'Autre côté du mur, Berlin

Pierre Boulat

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

$682

Photography, Isak Dinesen, baronne Blixen, Pierre Boulat

Isak Dinesen, baronne Blixen

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 41.5 x 28.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 16.3 x 11.2 x 0.1 inch

$1,705

Photography, Courrèges, Pierre Boulat

Courrèges

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 40 x 26.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 10.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,137

Photography, Vérification de papiers dans le bidonville de Nanterre, Pierre Boulat

Vérification de papiers dans le bidonville de Nanterre

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 33 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography - 13 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,137

Photography, West Point: Yes Sir ! Un cadet accueille la nouvelle promotion, Pierre Boulat

West Point: Yes Sir ! Un cadet accueille la nouvelle promotion

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 28.7 x 41.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 11.3 x 16.3 x 0.1 inch

$1,364

Photography, Course pour le bus scolaire. MiddleWest., Pierre Boulat

Course pour le bus scolaire. MiddleWest.

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 49 x 60 x 0.3 cm Photography - 19.3 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$796

Photography, Bolchoi V, Gérard Uféras

Bolchoi V

Gérard Uféras

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

$1,534

Photography, Marie Hélène chez Maxim's, Pierre Boulat

Marie Hélène chez Maxim's

Pierre Boulat

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

$966

Photography, Trocadéro, Vanessa Vercel

Trocadéro

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Rivoli, Vanessa Vercel

Rivoli

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Quai, Vanessa Vercel

Quai

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Place Vendôme, Vanessa Vercel

Place Vendôme

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Opéra, Vanessa Vercel

Opéra

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Madeleine, Vanessa Vercel

Madeleine

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Louve, Vanessa Vercel

Louve

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Eiffel oiseaux, Vanessa Vercel

Eiffel oiseaux

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Concorde, Vanessa Vercel

Concorde

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Coeur, Vanessa Vercel

Coeur

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Birhakeim 2, Vanessa Vercel

Birhakeim 2

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 105 x 70 x 2 cm Photography - 41.3 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Arc de triomphe, Vanessa Vercel

Arc de triomphe

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Alexandre III, Vanessa Vercel

Alexandre III

Vanessa Vercel

Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,478

Photography, Hasufel, Mihaela Ivanova

Hasufel

Mihaela Ivanova

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

$602

Sculpture, Voyou Brut!, JP Malot

Voyou Brut!

JP Malot

Sculpture - 30 x 40 x 3 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,250

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 160, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 160

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 13.4 inch

$800

Photography, Reflet, Arnaud Ele

Reflet

Arnaud Ele

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

$341

Photography, Kid Jockey I, Alain Schroeder

Kid Jockey I

Alain Schroeder

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

$1,705

Photography, The school kids nº3, Frederic Pasquini

The school kids nº3

Frederic Pasquini

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$625

Photography, The school kids nº2, Frederic Pasquini

The school kids nº2

Frederic Pasquini

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$625

Photography, Sans titre, Frederic Pasquini

Sans titre

Frederic Pasquini

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

$853

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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