White

Photography, Beta Collage 71, Michael Filonow

Beta Collage 71

Michael Filonow

Photography - 50.8 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm

$760

Photography, Maestria, Luz

Maestria

Luz

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.03 cm

$1,355

Photography, Poolside Ladies, Slim Aarons

Poolside Ladies

Slim Aarons

Photography - 76 x 101 x 0.01 cm

$3,501

Photography, Rock Extract, Antoine Gaussin

Rock Extract

Antoine Gaussin

Photography - 110 x 110 x 1 cm

$5,195

Photography, The Rolling Stones Group Portrait, London, 1965, Glen Craig

The Rolling Stones Group Portrait, London, 1965

Glen Craig

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm

$1,750

Photography, Madison Man, Ian Wallace

Madison Man

Ian Wallace

Photography - 50.8 x 40.64 x 0.1 cm

$1,694

Photography, No prostitution Here Geisha, Philippe Shangti

No prostitution Here Geisha

Philippe Shangti

Photography - 90 x 90 x 0.5 cm

$16,940

Photography, Flowers of ghetto, Rodrigo

Flowers of ghetto

Rodrigo

Photography - 35.3 x 53.3 x 0.2 cm

$2,257

Photography, The Feast of Trimalchio, AES + F

The Feast of Trimalchio

AES + F

Photography - 42 x 55.5 x 1 cm

$3,388

Photography, Uncharted Speed, Cheraine Collette

Uncharted Speed

Cheraine Collette

Photography - 67 x 100 x 2 cm

$4,517

Photography, Mount Fuji and the Heron, Leandro Frutos

Mount Fuji and the Heron

Leandro Frutos

Photography - 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm

$780

Photography, Bruxelles, Marco Barbon

Bruxelles

Marco Barbon

Photography - 24 x 18 cm

$226

Photography, Love, Petite Poissone

Love

Petite Poissone

Photography - 23 x 29 x 2 cm

$486

Photography, Stubborn optimiste, Nina Schipoff

Stubborn optimiste

Nina Schipoff

Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.5 cm

$1,694

Photography, Entre Vous & Nous, Jean-Claude Byandb

Entre Vous & Nous

Jean-Claude Byandb

Photography - 60 x 45 x 0.1 cm

$689

Photography, Mada 3, Olivier Le Brun

Mada 3

Olivier Le Brun

Photography - 30 x 45 cm

$1,191

Photography, La valise, Lewis Baltz

La valise

Lewis Baltz

Photography - 38 x 43.7 x 5 cm

$11,858

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

Calligraphing en l'air #6

Cody Choi

Photography - 75 x 50 x 1.5 cm

$1,975

Photography, Reflection, Dr Sanjay Arora

Reflection

Dr Sanjay Arora

Photography - 40 x 60 x 2 cm

$2,993

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

$1,304

Photography, Cinematography inspired session #24, Grzegorz Sikorski

Cinematography inspired session #24

Grzegorz Sikorski

Photography - 45 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$215

Photography, Dalmatian pelican - Pelecanus crispus, Ivaylo Zafirov

Dalmatian pelican - Pelecanus crispus

Ivaylo Zafirov

Photography - 37 x 50 cm

$237

Photography, Goose-in-Love-with-Boy-in-Love-with-Goose ; Rumination Concerning Interspecies and Same-Sex Marriage, Erie Country fair, Hambourg, New York, Les Krims

Goose-in-Love-with-Boy-in-Love-with-Goose ; Rumination Concerning Interspecies and Same-Sex Marriage, Erie Country fair, Hambourg, New York

Les Krims

Photography - 38.7 x 49.8 x 0.5 cm

$1,355

Photography, Le Doute, Charles Pétillon

Le Doute

Charles Pétillon

Photography - 60 x 86 cm

$4,517

Photography, Terra Incognita - Le Grand Canyon, Guillaume Pépy

Terra Incognita - Le Grand Canyon

Guillaume Pépy

Photography - 70 x 105 cm

$1,581

Photography, Picasso Preside la Corrida - Frejus, 1962, Lucien Clergue

Picasso Preside la Corrida - Frejus, 1962

Lucien Clergue

Photography - 45.7 x 55.9 cm

$12,000

Photography, The Path, Icy & Sot

The Path

Icy & Sot

Photography - 86 x 124 x 5 cm

$6,211

Photography, Sail, Oriane Brune

Sail

Oriane Brune

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 cm

$903

Photography, The Basketball game, Paul Almasy

The Basketball game

Paul Almasy

Photography - 69.5 x 49.6 x 1 cm

$988

Photography, Space pot 2008 , Jean-Pierre Raynaud

Space pot 2008

Jean-Pierre Raynaud

Photography - 105 x 75 cm

$1,637

Photography, Femme dans le désert, Emmanuelle Barbaras

Femme dans le désert

Emmanuelle Barbaras

Photography - 30 x 40 x 1 cm

$791

Photography, Nouveau départ, Xavier-Alexandre Pons

Nouveau départ

Xavier-Alexandre Pons

Photography - 100 x 100 x 1 cm

$2,372

Photography, Jenga, Alexandra Haasz

Jenga

Alexandra Haasz

Photography - 60 x 60 cm

$1,694

Photography, Bicicletas, Crianças e Outras Alegrias, Geraldo Pestalozzi

Bicicletas, Crianças e Outras Alegrias

Geraldo Pestalozzi

Photography - 29.7 x 42 cm

$565

Photography, Grandma Divers IX, Alain Schroeder

Grandma Divers IX

Alain Schroeder

Photography - 120 x 80 x 1 cm

$2,823

Photography, Hanami #3, Marcel Antelo

Hanami #3

Marcel Antelo

Photography - 70 x 100 cm

$2,089

Photography, Miami Stripes 09 11bn, Luca Artioli

Miami Stripes 09 11bn

Luca Artioli

Photography - 114.3 x 177.8 x 0.3 cm

$5,000

Photography, Notre-Dame de Paris, Justina Napiorkowska

Notre-Dame de Paris

Justina Napiorkowska

Photography - 30 x 30 cm

$282

Photography, Alice Heine (1857-1925), épouse du Prince Albert 1er de Monaco, buste en marbre blanc par Fabio Stecchi (1855-1928), 1892, Carole. Palais Princier de Monaco, Julien Spiewak

Alice Heine (1857-1925), épouse du Prince Albert 1er de Monaco, buste en marbre blanc par Fabio Stecchi (1855-1928), 1892, Carole. Palais Princier de Monaco

Julien Spiewak

Photography - 70 x 50 x 5 cm

$4,404

Photography, Bolchoi XV, Gérard Uféras

Bolchoi XV

Gérard Uféras

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$1,920

Photography, Nico in der Wueste, Andreas Fux

Nico in der Wueste

Andreas Fux

Photography - 37.5 x 56 cm

$2,597

Photography, UTMB, Alexis Berg

UTMB

Alexis Berg

Photography - 60 x 90 cm

$1,344

Photography, Untitled #10, Josef Nadj

Untitled #10

Josef Nadj

Photography - 25 x 30 cm

$1,242

Photography, Neck Tattoo, Warwick Saint

Neck Tattoo

Warwick Saint

Photography - 78.7 x 63.5 cm

$1,800

Photography, Free Spirit nº1, Pierre Cherix

Free Spirit nº1

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.2 cm

$508

Photography, Abstraction urbaine #5, Guillaume Chevallard

Abstraction urbaine #5

Guillaume Chevallard

Photography - 49 x 69 x 2.9 cm

$1,355

Photography, Insta(nt)llation - Completion. 1/ 3, Eszter Poroszlai

Insta(nt)llation - Completion. 1/ 3

Eszter Poroszlai

Photography - 30 x 30 x 3 cm

$1,186

Photography, Repos II - série oiseaux, Henry Ausloos

Repos II - série oiseaux

Henry Ausloos

Photography - 40 x 80 x 0.1 cm

$1,553

Photography, Paranoïd #11, David De Beyter

Paranoïd #11

David De Beyter

Photography - 30 x 41 x 0.2 cm

$395

Photography, Manufactura 3, Oriol Texidor

Manufactura 3

Oriol Texidor

Photography - 40 x 50 x 7 cm

$1,423

Photography, Debbie Harry, Coney Island, NY. August 7, 1977, Bob Gruen

Debbie Harry, Coney Island, NY. August 7, 1977

Bob Gruen

Photography - 27.9 x 35.6 x 5.1 cm

$1,400

Photography, Flaming Asia, Chiron Duong

Flaming Asia

Chiron Duong

Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$1,016

Photography, On se tape un hamburger, Florence Le Van

On se tape un hamburger

Florence Le Van

Photography - 12 x 17 cm

$271

Photography, Morning, Luke Simmonds

Morning

Luke Simmonds

Photography - 43 x 30 cm

$141

Photography, Disparition II, Laurent Hini

Disparition II

Laurent Hini

Photography - 40 x 60 cm

$1,694

Photography, Venezia-J-3-18, Joss

Venezia-J-3-18

Joss

Photography - 30 x 30 x 1 cm

$282

Photography, Daily Life, Anaiis Lee

Daily Life

Anaiis Lee

Photography - 50 x 70 x 0.3 cm

$1,355

Photography, Tuneis, Gilberto Perin

Tuneis

Gilberto Perin

Photography - 40 x 60 cm

$1,039

Photography, Peak Mid Winter #1, Jonathan Moore

Peak Mid Winter #1

Jonathan Moore

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.01 cm

$988

Photography, Portrait de geisha, Daiane Soares

Portrait de geisha

Daiane Soares

Photography - 75 x 50 cm

$2,033

Photography, Hydrocarbure, Stéphane Martin

Hydrocarbure

Stéphane Martin

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.04 cm

$169

Photography, Telltale, Solomon Jamy Brown

Telltale

Solomon Jamy Brown

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.05 cm

$1,298

Photography, Lady from the past, Eliana Barbosa

Lady from the past

Eliana Barbosa

Photography - 30.5 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm

$621

Photography, Untitled, Fabian Albertini

Untitled

Fabian Albertini

Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.5 cm

$1,694

Photography, Taste of Blood, Vava Venezia

Taste of Blood

Vava Venezia

Photography - 70 x 70 x 1 cm

$1,355

Photography, Full tilt, Richard Kelley

Full tilt

Richard Kelley

Photography - 120 x 80 x 4 cm

$649

Photography, 003- Les petits peuples de Sibérie, Jacques Langevin

003- Les petits peuples de Sibérie

Jacques Langevin

Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.1 cm

$1,355

Photography, Etre dans le bleu, Jean-Claude Mathier

Etre dans le bleu

Jean-Claude Mathier

Photography - 100 x 150 x 2 cm

$1,459

Photography, Prayer for Kinshasa, Thiemoko Claude Diarra

Prayer for Kinshasa

Thiemoko Claude Diarra

Photography - 80 x 60 x 1 cm

$1,920

Photography, Hope and happiness, John Mastrogiacomo

Hope and happiness

John Mastrogiacomo

Photography - 40.6 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$1,105

Photography, Parfums #1, Isa Marcelli

Parfums #1

Isa Marcelli

Photography - 47 x 36 cm

$1,976

Photography, The classroom, Magnus Wahman

The classroom

Magnus Wahman

Photography - 40 x 73 x 0.3 cm

$1,355

Photography, Jeanne Moreau / Paris Match, Jack Garofalo

Jeanne Moreau / Paris Match

Jack Garofalo

Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$2,168

Photography, Shakespeare Mirror Nr 1, Lika Brutyan

Shakespeare Mirror Nr 1

Lika Brutyan

Photography - 80 x 60 cm

$1,900

Photography, Silent, Emilie Mori

Silent

Emilie Mori

Photography - 70 x 70 x 0.1 cm

$1,016

Photography, Rothko Chapel, Houston, Hervé Gloaguen

Rothko Chapel, Houston

Hervé Gloaguen

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$2,033

Photography, Blurry minds #2, Rani Bruchstein

Blurry minds #2

Rani Bruchstein

Photography - 90 x 60 x 2 cm

$4,918

Photography, Jeune indien jouant avec sa colombe, Sabrina & Roland Michaud

Jeune indien jouant avec sa colombe

Sabrina & Roland Michaud

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm

$1,355

Photography, Lac des cygnes, Peter Zupnik

Lac des cygnes

Peter Zupnik

Photography - 30 x 40 x 1 cm

$1,863

Photography, Diego Silvetti. La México, CDMX., Andrés Calamaro

Diego Silvetti. La México, CDMX.

Andrés Calamaro

Photography - 40 x 60 x 2 cm

$8,865

Photography, Roadster, Franck Leclerc

Roadster

Franck Leclerc

Photography - 33 x 40 x 1 cm

$779

Photography, La Terre est bleue comme une orange, Elena Krasteva

La Terre est bleue comme une orange

Elena Krasteva

Photography - 48 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$361

Photography, Balise, Esteban Richard

Balise

Esteban Richard

Photography - 90 x 135 x 0.4 cm

$1,468

Photography, La Tour Eiffel, Paul Khayat

La Tour Eiffel

Paul Khayat

Photography - 40 x 40 x 1 cm

$565

Photography, Ghostboard #8, Andrew Blauschild

Ghostboard #8

Andrew Blauschild

Photography - 61 x 106.7 cm

$6,500

Photography, Wrapped series untitled #2, Robert Mack

Wrapped series untitled #2

Robert Mack

Photography - 86.4 x 58.4 x 2.5 cm

$4,250

Photography, Les marches du Louvre #01, Hannaka

Les marches du Louvre #01

Hannaka

Photography - 32 x 26 x 1 cm

$666

Photography, Looking for balance, Danielle Mano Bella

Looking for balance

Danielle Mano Bella

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.3 cm

$1,694

Photography, #Rrrabbithole Moscow, Alan Vouba

#Rrrabbithole Moscow

Alan Vouba

Photography - 10.5 x 20 cm

$169

Photography, ''Gunina''en Givenchy, Paris le 5 Août 1955 Elle Magazine, Georges Dambier

''Gunina''en Givenchy, Paris le 5 Août 1955 Elle Magazine

Georges Dambier

Photography - 74 x 68 x 2 cm

$3,953

Photography, Alek Wek, Thierry Le Gouès

Alek Wek

Thierry Le Gouès

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$4,743

Photography, Alone Digue, Lionel Monnier

Alone Digue

Lionel Monnier

Photography - 100 x 150 x 0.3 cm

$1,242

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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