White

Photography, Group Shot - New York, 1964, Ken Heyman

Group Shot - New York, 1964

Ken Heyman

Photography - 29.2 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm

$4,800

Photography, Yoko Ono holding up peace signs, NYC 1972, Bob Gruen

Yoko Ono holding up peace signs, NYC 1972

Bob Gruen

Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Pete Townshend, NYC 1973, Bob Gruen

Pete Townshend, NYC 1973

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards II, MSG, NYC 1972, Bob Gruen

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards II, MSG, NYC 1972

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Rolling Stones, NYC, 1978, Bob Gruen

Rolling Stones, NYC, 1978

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Yoko Ono and John Lennon in a row boat, Greenwich, CT 1973, Bob Gruen

Yoko Ono and John Lennon in a row boat, Greenwich, CT 1973

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$3,000

Photography, Keith Richards, Baton Rouge, LA 1975, Bob Gruen

Keith Richards, Baton Rouge, LA 1975

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1973, Bob Gruen

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1973

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Jerry Lewis Telethon, NYC, 1972, Bob Gruen

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Jerry Lewis Telethon, NYC, 1972

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Clash, USA 1979, Bob Gruen

Clash, USA 1979

Bob Gruen

Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, David Bowie, NYC 1983, Bob Gruen

David Bowie, NYC 1983

Bob Gruen

Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Kiss close up, NYC, 1975, Bob Gruen

Kiss close up, NYC, 1975

Bob Gruen

Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Queen, MSG, NYC 1977, Bob Gruen

Queen, MSG, NYC 1977

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, The Who, NYC 1976, Bob Gruen

The Who, NYC 1976

Bob Gruen

Photography - 50.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm

$2,500

Photography, Betta BW 3, Michael Filonow

Betta BW 3

Michael Filonow

Photography - 61 x 61 x 0.3 cm

$390

Photography, Light painting, Jan Brunclík

Light painting

Jan Brunclík

Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.1 cm

$1,299

Photography, Surimpression du Touareg, Françoise Spiekermeier

Surimpression du Touareg

Françoise Spiekermeier

Photography - 90 x 60 cm

$813

Photography, Street comfort, Paul J Bucknall

Street comfort

Paul J Bucknall

Photography - 61 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm

$691

Photography, Sunny St Louis, Alain Le Garsmeur

Sunny St Louis

Alain Le Garsmeur

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$514

Photography, Savannah Façade, Alain Le Garsmeur

Savannah Façade

Alain Le Garsmeur

Photography - 25 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$384

Photography, Santa Maria Smoke, Alain Le Garsmeur

Santa Maria Smoke

Alain Le Garsmeur

Photography - 25 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$384

Photography, San Francisco Escapes, Alain Le Garsmeur

San Francisco Escapes

Alain Le Garsmeur

Photography - 30 x 25 x 0.1 cm

$384

Photography, Horse Paddock - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print, Alain Le Garsmeur

Horse Paddock - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print

Alain Le Garsmeur

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$514

Photography, Taking pictures/ Their life-Cameroon, Gilbert Ryu

Taking pictures/ Their life-Cameroon

Gilbert Ryu

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$847

Photography, Reserved/Their life-Cameroon, Gilbert Ryu

Reserved/Their life-Cameroon

Gilbert Ryu

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$847

Photography, Untitled 30 from the series of INtheVISIBLE, Arslan Sükan

Untitled 30 from the series of INtheVISIBLE

Arslan Sükan

Photography - 140 x 110 x 0.1 cm

$4,500

Photography, Sans titre, Pierre Cherix

Sans titre

Pierre Cherix

Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.5 cm

$847

Photography, Prologue 2, Ziad Naitaddi

Prologue 2

Ziad Naitaddi

Photography - 80 x 60 x 2 cm

$2,259

Photography, Life at Jokulsarlon 01 - Jokulsarlon, Iceland, Nathan Soulez-Larivière

Life at Jokulsarlon 01 - Jokulsarlon, Iceland

Nathan Soulez-Larivière

Photography - 80 x 120 cm

$734

Photography, Vanity, Steven Seidenberg

Vanity

Steven Seidenberg

Photography - 41 x 54.5 x 0.1 cm

$2,107

Photography, Céline, Rodrigo

Céline

Rodrigo

Photography - 33.2 x 50 x 0.1 cm

$1,412

Photography, Sans titre 10 : Loyalland serie, Mauren Brodbeck

Sans titre 10 : Loyalland serie

Mauren Brodbeck

Photography - 30 x 25 cm

$847

Photography, Peak Mid Winter #9, Jonathan Moore

Peak Mid Winter #9

Jonathan Moore

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$988

Photography, 18 Flats, Barry Cawston

18 Flats

Barry Cawston

Photography - 110 x 120 x 2 cm

$3,095

Photography, Vision blanche, Yves Bordes Lapeyre

Vision blanche

Yves Bordes Lapeyre

Photography - 60 x 90 x 0.5 cm

$1,005

Photography, New York, Catskills, Olivia Bonnamour

New York, Catskills

Olivia Bonnamour

Photography - 40 x 60 cm

$621

Photography, L'oeil-fatigue #3, Juliette Alhmah

L'oeil-fatigue #3

Juliette Alhmah

Photography - 10 x 10 cm

$136

Photography, Mont Blanc, Eric Bouvet

Mont Blanc

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 40 x 60 x 5 cm

$2,033

Photography, Aiguille du Grépon, Eric Bouvet

Aiguille du Grépon

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.1 cm

$2,033

Photography, Mont Blanc, Eric Bouvet

Mont Blanc

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.1 cm

$2,033

Photography, L’Aiguille Verte, Eric Bouvet

L’Aiguille Verte

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.1 cm

$2,033

Photography, Descente de l’arête de l’Aiguille du midi, Eric Bouvet

Descente de l’arête de l’Aiguille du midi

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$1,581

Photography, Les Drus et La Verte, Eric Bouvet

Les Drus et La Verte

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$1,581

Photography, Glacier d’Argentière, Eric Bouvet

Glacier d’Argentière

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$1,073

Photography, Glacier, Eric Bouvet

Glacier

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$1,073

Photography, Les Aiguilles de Chamonix vues de l’Index, Eric Bouvet

Les Aiguilles de Chamonix vues de l’Index

Eric Bouvet

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$1,073

Photography, Rainy days in Manila I, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Manila I

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Manila IX, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Manila IX

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Manila XI, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Manila XI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Saigon III, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Saigon III

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Saigon IV, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Saigon IV

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Saigon V, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Saigon V

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Saigon VI, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Saigon VI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Saigon IX, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Saigon IX

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Tokyo I, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Tokyo I

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 120 x 80 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Tokyo III, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Tokyo III

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Tokyo VI, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Tokyo VI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Tokyo IX, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Tokyo IX

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 120 x 80 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Tokyo XII, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Tokyo XII

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Wild lens - Horses III, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Horses III

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Wild lens - Horses II, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Horses II

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Wild lens - Horses I, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Horses I

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Wild lens - Elephant XIX, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Elephant XIX

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Wild lens - Elephant XI, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Elephant XI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Wild lens - Elephant X, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Elephant X

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Wild lens - Big Five II, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Big Five II

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 50 x 150 x 3 cm

$2,134

Photography, Wild lens - Penguins, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Penguins

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 50 x 150 x 3 cm

$2,134

Photography, Wild lens - Flamingos, Sven Pfrommer

Wild lens - Flamingos

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 50 x 150 x 3 cm

$2,134

Photography, Rainy days in New York IV, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in New York IV

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 120 x 80 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in New York V, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in New York V

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 120 x 80 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Singapore blur II, Sven Pfrommer

Singapore blur II

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Human crowd VIII, Sven Pfrommer

Human crowd VIII

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 100 x 100 x 4 cm

$1,683

Photography, Rainy days in Hong Kong VIII, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Hong Kong VIII

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 120 x 80 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Hong Kong X, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Hong Kong X

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 120 x 80 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Hong Kong XIV, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Hong Kong XIV

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 80 x 120 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Rainy days in Hong Kong XVI, Sven Pfrommer

Rainy days in Hong Kong XVI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 120 x 80 x 3 cm

$2,247

Photography, Jonathan, Larry Clark

Jonathan

Larry Clark

Photography - 18 x 13.5 cm

$508

Photography, Jonathan, Larry Clark

Jonathan

Larry Clark

Photography - 13 x 18 x 0.1 cm

$508

Photography, L'Année du Lapin Chasseur, Marie Burel

L'Année du Lapin Chasseur

Marie Burel

Photography - 52 x 38 x 3 cm

$678

Photography, De la Terre à la Lune - 05, Bruno Palisson

De la Terre à la Lune - 05

Bruno Palisson

Photography - 40 x 60 cm

$1,016

Photography, From Glass to Reflections - 6, Bruno Palisson

From Glass to Reflections - 6

Bruno Palisson

Photography - 40 x 60 cm

$1,016

Photography, Monks XXXVIII, Sven Pfrommer

Monks XXXVIII

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 105 x 3 cm

$1,796

Photography, Monks LX, Sven Pfrommer

Monks LX

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 100 x 70 x 3 cm

$1,796

Photography, Monks LXX, Sven Pfrommer

Monks LXX

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 100 x 80 x 3 cm

$1,796

Photography, Mallorca XI, Sven Pfrommer

Mallorca XI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 3 cm

$2,134

Photography, Paris XXI, Sven Pfrommer

Paris XXI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 4 cm

$1,570

Photography, Chicago sky I, Sven Pfrommer

Chicago sky I

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 70 x 140 x 3 cm

$2,134

Photography, Chicago art I A, Sven Pfrommer

Chicago art I A

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 100 x 100 x 3 cm

$1,909

Photography, Balade en vallée d’Ubaye, Didier Bizet

Balade en vallée d’Ubaye

Didier Bizet

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm

$678

Photography, New York Color XXXIII, Sven Pfrommer

New York Color XXXIII

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 100 x 70 x 3 cm

$1,796

Photography, New York Color XXIX, Sven Pfrommer

New York Color XXIX

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 100 x 80 x 3 cm

$1,796

Photography, Watchtower XXI, Sven Pfrommer

Watchtower XXI

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 100 x 100 x 4 cm

$1,457

Photography, Urban mover V, Sven Pfrommer

Urban mover V

Sven Pfrommer

Photography - 90 x 120 x 4 cm

$1,570

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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