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Cocktail Red
Dan Holmqvist
Photography - 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch
$865
Phonebooth Silhouette (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 57.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 22.5 x 30 inch
$5,000
Two Glasses of Champagne (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch
$5,000
Two Glasses of Champagne (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
$2,500
The Two Step Silhouette (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch
$5,000
The Two Step Silhouette (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
$2,500
The Mystery of the Borrowed Dress (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 57.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 22.5 x 30 inch
$5,000
The Lady and the Lion (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch
$5,000
Martin Scorsese - 2006
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
Members of the Buzzcocks, Danny Farrant, Chris Remington, Steve D - Boston, 1980 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$3,000
Member of Human League, Philip Oake - Boston, MA 1980 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
The Cramps lead singer Lux Interior (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$3,000
Devo performs live at The Paradise Rock Club in 1976 (IV)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
Lou Reed - Boston, MA 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$3,000
Punk Club - Boston, MA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$3,000
Musician Elvis Costello performs live
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
Devo performs live at The Paradise Rock Club in 1976 (III)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$3,000
Brian Tristan - Cramps guitarist Kid Congo Powers
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
The Cramps Lead singer Lux Interior (III)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
Member of Human League, Susan Sulley - Boston, MA 1980 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$3,000
Member of Philip Oakey - Boston, MA 1980 (III)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
The Cramps lead singer Lux Interior
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$3,000
Devo performs live at The Paradise Rock Club in 1976 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$3,000
Back Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
Back Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
Umbrella Silhouette II (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 160 x 213.4 cm Photography - 63 x 84 inch
$50,000
Umbrella Silhouette II (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 142.2 x 182.9 cm Photography - 56 x 72 inch
$25,000
Umbrella Silhouette II (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 152.4 cm Photography - 45 x 60 inch
$15,000
Umbrella Silhouette II (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography - 30 x 40 inch
$10,000
Umbrella Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
Umbrella Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
Umbrella Silhouette (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 114.3 cm Photography - 45 x 45 inch
$10,000
The Kiss Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
The Kiss Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
The Kiss Silhouette (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 114.3 cm Photography - 45 x 45 inch
$10,000
The Bunny and the Man (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 160 x 213.4 cm Photography - 63 x 84 inch
$50,000
The Bunny and the Man (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 121.9 x 182.9 cm Photography - 48 x 72 inch
$25,000
The Bunny and the Man (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography - 40 x 60 inch
$15,000
The Bunny and the Man (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography - 30 x 40 inch
$10,000
The Anonymity of Shape (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
The Anonymity of Shape (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
The Anonymity of Shape (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 114.3 cm Photography - 45 x 45 inch
$10,000
Soldier Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 160 x 213.4 cm Photography - 63 x 84 inch
$50,000
Soldier Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 137.2 x 182.9 cm Photography - 54 x 72 inch
$25,000
Soldier Silhouette (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 152.4 cm Photography - 45 x 60 inch
$15,000
Mystery of The Dancing Twins (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 160 x 213.4 cm Photography - 63 x 84 inch
$50,000
Mystery of The Dancing Twins (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 142.2 x 182.9 cm Photography - 56 x 72 inch
$25,000
Mystery of The Dancing Twins (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 152.4 cm Photography - 45 x 60 inch
$15,000
Mystery of The Dancing Twins (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography - 30 x 40 inch
$10,000
Match Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
Match Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
Match Silhouette (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 114.3 cm Photography - 45 x 45 inch
$10,000
May the sky be my testimony
Ana Zegheanu
Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.02 cm Photography - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$181
Tokyo
Raynald Najosky
Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,811 $1,630
Femme au temple
Raynald Najosky
Photography - 56 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 22 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,245
Sumo 9
Raynald Najosky
Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,811 $1,630
The Road to Kazbegi
Emil Farber
Photography - 39.2 x 26 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.4 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$453
Back Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
Back Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
Phonebooth Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 160 x 213.4 cm Photography - 63 x 84 inch
$50,000
Phonebooth Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 142.2 x 182.9 cm Photography - 56 x 72 inch
$25,000
Phonebooth Silhouette (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 152.4 cm Photography - 45 x 60 inch
$15,000
Phonebooth Silhouette (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography - 30 x 40 inch
$15,000
Two Glasses of Champagne (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
Two Glasses of Champagne (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
Two Glasses of Champagne (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 114.3 cm Photography - 45 x 45 inch
$10,000
The Two Step Silhouette (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 177.8 x 177.8 cm Photography - 70 x 70 inch
$50,000
The Two Step Silhouette (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Photography - 60 x 60 inch
$20,000
The Two Step Silhouette (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 114.3 cm Photography - 45 x 45 inch
$10,000
The Mystery of the Borrowed Dress (XXL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 160 x 213.4 cm Photography - 63 x 84 inch
$50,000
The Mystery of the Borrowed Dress (XL)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 142.2 x 182.9 cm Photography - 56 x 72 inch
$25,000
The Mystery of the Borrowed Dress (L)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 114.3 x 152.4 cm Photography - 45 x 60 inch
$15,000
The Mystery of the Borrowed Dress (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography - 30 x 40 inch
$10,000
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!