Portrait Photography for Sale
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Bowie Recording Pin Ups
Mick Rock
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Bowie On The Phone
Mick Rock
Photography - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Bowie In The Mirror
Mick Rock
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Bowie Eating Lunch
Mick Rock
Photography - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Bowie Beverly Hills
Mick Rock
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Bowie And Sax - Limited Edition Mick Rock Estate Print
Mick Rock
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Bowie And Ronson On Stage
Mick Rock
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Bowie And Ronson On Stage
Mick Rock
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$2,796
Pharrell Williams #3 Portrait intervened by the artists
Hunter & Gatti
Photography - 114 x 82.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 44.9 x 32.5 x 0.1 inch
$6,000
Eva Herzigova chez Chanel vintage
Pascal Therme
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$568
Buenos Aires Tango 4
Pascal Therme
Photography - 60 x 45 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,080
1952 Raymond DUNCAN Galerie Akademia
Raymond Duncan
Photography - 18 x 13 cm Photography - 7.1 x 5.1 inch
$3,297
1952 Raymond DUNCAN dans sa galerie Akademia
Raymond Duncan
Photography - 18 x 13 cm Photography - 7.1 x 5.1 inch
$3,353
Francisco
Mikael Kenta
Photography - 120 x 90 x 0.3 cm Photography - 47.24 x 35.43 x 0.1 inch
$3,500
Mr. Donut
Mikael Kenta
Photography - 70 x 105 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.55 x 41.33 x 0.1 inch
$3,100
V from the Iconic series
Mikael Kenta
Photography - 70 x 105 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.55 x 41.33 x 0.1 inch
$3,100
Bain de lasers & lumières
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 24 x 16 x 0.1 cm Photography - 9.4 x 6.3 x 0 inch
$341
Bustier Issey Miyake
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 16 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography - 6.3 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$341
Conversation improbable
Irène Jonas
Photography - 19 x 13 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.5 x 5.1 x 0 inch
$568
Helmut & June Newton
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 16 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography - 6.3 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$341
Excentricité ordinaire Couple filles Roxane & Mescaline EMO
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$341
Excentricité ordinaire Couple filles Kinaly & Shima COSPLAY
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$341 $307
Fabrice Emaer et top modèle
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 16 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography - 6.3 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$341
Miles Davis à la trompette
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$512
Monsieur Pipi
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 24 x 16 x 0.1 cm Photography - 9.4 x 6.3 x 0 inch
$341 $307
Pingouin de carnaval
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 16 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography - 6.3 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$341
The drowning of consumption, Apple sauce
Idan Wizen
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$512
I am free to imprison myself - I
Idan Wizen
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$512
I am free to imprison myself - II
Idan Wizen
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$512
Girl with the golden pearl
Cheraine Collette
Photography - 120 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 47.2 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch
$6,821
Minerva #3
Rani Bruchstein
Photography - 150 x 100 x 2 cm Photography - 59.1 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$9,162
C918 - 21
Stephane Charpentier
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$2,046
Paper Exploration - Martinique
Diane Vo Ngoc
Photography - 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 4.3 x 3.3 x 0 inch
$625
Paper Exploration- Japan, Kimono 2
Diane Vo Ngoc
Photography - 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 4.3 x 3.3 x 0 inch
$568
Taking pictures/ Their life-Cameroon
Gilbert Ryu
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$853
Reserved/Their life-Cameroon
Gilbert Ryu
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$853
Miss Guy, NYC (Extra Large)
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
$15,000
Tabboo! (Stephen Tasjian), NYC (Extra Large)
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
$15,000
Lavinia Co-op, NYC (Extra Large)
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 203.2 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 80 x 60 x 0.1 inch
$15,000
Dorian Corey, Wigstock, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 inch
$8,000
Kabuki Starshine, Wigstock, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 inch
$8,000
Lady Bunny, Wigstock, NYC
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 inch
$8,000
The Ides of March (Diptych), n.d. Large
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 inch
$12,000
Girlfriend, Portfolio of 9 photographs
Michael James O'Brien
Photography - 167.6 x 129.5 x 0.3 cm Photography - 66 x 51 x 0.1 inch
$15,000
Femme Hamar au collier d'acier
Françoise Spiekermeier
Photography - 60 x 50 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 inch
$796
Jala, une amie pour la vie / Friends for a lifetime - Ethiopia
Françoise Spiekermeier
Photography - 50 x 60 cm Photography - 19.7 x 23.6 inch
$796
Self portrait
Sabyl Ghoussoub
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$682
Invisible Identity
Robert Jaso
Photography - 57 x 41 x 0.1 cm Photography - 22.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$3,126
The Paradox of Identity
Robert Jaso
Photography - 57 x 41 x 0.1 cm Photography - 22.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$3,126
Rhythms of Resilience IV
Gauthier Bouret
Photography - 75 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$853
Rhythms of Resilience II
Gauthier Bouret
Photography - 75 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$853
Double
Gabriel Quirant - Pidet
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$568
Arbre
Gabriel Quirant - Pidet
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$568
Lewis / Paris Match
Philippe Le Tellier
Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$1,819
Chirac, 1967 / Paris Match
Patrice Habans
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$1,705
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
Portrait Photography for Sale
In the 1830s, Nièpce discovered the process for setting images onto pewter plates. In 1833, upon Nièpce's death, Louis Daguerre and François Arago continued his experiments and invented the daguerreotype, a process which created a printed image on a silver plate that had been exposed to light. Photography was born.
Similarly to how portrait painting had dominated artistic output in previous centuries, portrait photography was to become the pillar of the Second French Empire's photographic industry. Lenses with a shorter focal length, which enabled reduced exposure times, gradually appear on the market. The required equipment was expensive and difficult to handle. Some photographers, called daguerreotypists, decided to open their own photography studios to make a profit from their endeavours. The daguerreotype process was temperamental, and photographers had to take their pictures with great precision and attention to detail. They welcomed many people into their studios and customers choose how they wished to be photographed from catalogue of poses. Originally only accessible to the bourgeoisie, lower prices resulting from the growing number of studios eventually attracted a wider customer base. This phenomenon infuriated the poet Charles Baudelaire who was frustrated by the sense of narcissism sparked by the daguerreotypists.
Despite his protests, the egotistical trend only grew with the emergence of 'carte de visite' portraits (small photographs, the size of today's business cards). These were the brainchild of Adolphe Eugène Disdéri came up with the idea of producing portraits akin to visiting cards in 1859. He printed eight portraits in a variety of poses onto a single plate and once developed they could be cut up into eight distinct “visiting cards". Very popular with the bourgeoisie, they highlighted the sitters' social status. 'Carte de visite' portraits featuring celebrities were also sold to customers, who could subsequently add them to their albums.
The photographer Nadar was one of the first to demonstrate a conscious artistic approach to producing these portraits. He emphasised facial expressions and ensured the sitter was comfortable and at ease before taking the photograph. He photographed the era's greatest thinkers and artists, including Honoré de Balzac, George Sand, and Victor Hugo. He even managed to reconcile Baudelaire with portraiture.
At the end of the 19th century, the art of photography started to enter the mainstream, with the arrival of the Kodak company. The use of the camera, and the taking of portraits, became everyday occurrences. A century later, it was the invention of the digital camera which challenged the status quo. Whereas before alterations could only be made to photographs when they were being taken or developed, with the digital camera editing became easier, quicker and more convenient. Digital photography has given photographers much more freedom when it comes to editing and new methods and techniques are constantly being explored.
Some of the photographers who have left their mark on the last century include: Cindy Sherman, who excelled in self-portraits, Annie Leibovitz, who captured celebrities, the wacky duo, Pierre and Gilles, as well as Diane Arbus, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Bettina Rheims.
So, do portraits help us to learn more about each other, to remember, to invent, to act, or to reconnect with ourselves? Find out on Artsper, by exploring the works of Formento & Formento, Naomi Vona, Ahmed Bennani, Chou Ching Hui, Samuel Cueto, Brno del Zou, Ren Hang, Markus + Indrani, Jerome Liebling as well as Annina Roescheisen.
A portrait photograph can be a photograph of a person's head and shoulders, but it can also be of an animal or of a different section of the subject's body such as their feet. Portrait photographs in art often tell or hint something about its subject to the viewer, such as an aspect of their personality, but still contain an element of mystery.
The three major types of portrait photography are posed portraits, candid or anonymous portraits, and conceptual portraits. The last type, conceptual or creative portraits, can be experimental and abstract, and may not represent an image close to a traditional portrait.
The six main types of portrait photography are fine art portraits, traditional portraits (for example posed portraits taken at school), lifestyle portraits, group portraits, street portraits and glamour portraits.