France Black & white photo
Valérie Belin is a French art photographer. She lives and works in Paris.
Her work takes the form of photographic series. In the 2000s she started using digital post-production tools which gave her greater freedom to change and control the chromatic values of the prints. She now produced her first series in colour. In 2009 Belin began to use other kinds of digital manipulation, heightening the hybrid, graphic and artificial dimension of her work. These include solarisation and overprinting. Since then, she has also worked with other abstract vectorial forms, like digital "readymades" found on the internet, which she reworks on the computer, melding them with her images.
Erwin Blumenfeld was a German-born photographer and artist who is best known for his fashion photography and experimental work in the mid-20th century. He was began his career as an artist, working in painting, drawing, and collage.
In the 1930s, Blumenfeld fled Germany and settled in Paris, where he became a successful fashion photographer. He worked for Vogue and other high-profile magazines, creating iconic images of models and celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly.
Blumenfeld was also known for his experimental and avant-garde work, which often involved techniques such as photomontage, solarization, and multiple exposures. He saw photography as a means of artistic expression and used it to explore ideas about identity, beauty, and the nature of reality.
Blumenfeld's legacy as an artist and photographer continues to influence contemporary fashion and art. His innovative techniques and distinctive style continue to inspire new generations of artists, and his work is recognized as a significant contribution to the history of photography.
Guy Bourdin was a French photographer and artist who is best known for his innovative and provocative fashion photography in the mid-20th century. He was began his career as a painter before turning to photography.
Bourdin's photographic style was characterized by his use of bold colors, surreal imagery, and provocative themes. He often incorporated elements of eroticism and violence into his work, challenging traditional ideas about beauty and femininity.
Bourdin's photographs were widely published in fashion magazines such as Vogue, and he became known for his collaborations with fashion designers such as Charles Jourdan and Issey Miyake. His work was highly influential, and he is considered one of the most important fashion photographers of the 20th century.
Bourdin's legacy as an artist and photographer continues to inspire new generations of artists. His innovative techniques and bold aesthetic continue to push the boundaries of fashion photography and have had a significant impact on contemporary art and culture.
Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French artist renowned for his groundbreaking work in photography, particularly in the realms of photojournalism and street photography. Born on August 22, 1908, in Chanteloup, France, Cartier-Bresson's early artistic endeavors were in painting, which he began studying at the age of five. His transition to photography was marked by his adoption of a 35mm Leica camera in 1931, a tool that became synonymous with his work.
Henri Cartier-Bresson's photography is celebrated for its unique blend of spontaneity and composition, capturing moments that reveal deeper truths about their subjects. His theory of "the decisive moment" – that is, capturing an event that is ephemeral and spontaneous, yet significant – has had a profound influence on the field of photography. His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is held in high esteem in art collections worldwide.
In addition to his personal achievements, Henri Cartier-Bresson was a co-founder of Magnum Photos in 1947, a cooperative agency for worldwide photographers that significantly influenced photojournalism. Later in his career, Cartier-Bresson returned to painting and drawing, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to the arts.
For art collectors and experts, Henri Cartier-Bresson's work offers a pivotal exploration of 20th-century photography, blending artistic vision with the unguarded moments of life. His influence extends beyond his images, shaping the way we perceive and engage with visual narratives.
To explore more about Henri Cartier-Bresson's influential career and works, and to stay updated on exhibitions or sales featuring his photography, you might consider subscribing to updates from art institutions or galleries that frequently showcase his work.
Lucien Clergue is a French photographer of black and white photography, the first photographer elected a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts.
Lucien Clergue is one of the most famous photographers in France and founder of the annual Arles Festival, which has become the main event in the world of artistic photography, attended by up to 100,000 people. His famous photographic works - modernist black and white studies of female nudes, harlequins, dead animals, gypsies and bullfighting - are considered exemplary of the photographer-artist. Clergue is also known for his friendship with Pablo Picasso, which lasted some 30 years, until the artist's death.
Elsa and Johanna are a creative duo of photographic artists and filmmakers.
They were finalists for Prix HSBC pour la photographie 2016 and won the second Prix Picto de la mode 2017.
The duo's clients include well-known publications such as Le Temps, Boycott Magazine, L'Express 10, Crash Magazine, Etro, Boucheron and Apple.
Horst P. Horst, a German-American fashion photographer, is renowned for his significant contributions to the art and fashion industry. Born in 1906, Horst's career spanned several decades, during which he became famous for his distinct style that skillfully blends elements of surrealism, classicism, and avant-garde artistry. His work, characterized by meticulous preparation and an innovative use of lighting, frequently avoided the use of filters and shadows, focusing instead on the subject with an almost architectural precision.
Horst P. Horst's legacy in fashion photography is underscored by his famous portraits, including the iconic 1942 image of Marlene Dietrich, and his exploration of the high society lifestyle through his collaborations with Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. These projects featured portraits of illustrious figures from the realms of royalty, art, fashion, and high society, such as Andy Warhol, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Yves Saint Laurent, showcasing Horst's ability to navigate the glamorous and intimate worlds of his subjects.
His work extended beyond portraiture to include interior design photography, as seen in his documentation of notable interiors for magazines like House & Garden and Vogue. Horst's photographs often served as a bridge, introducing the public to the works of contemporary artists and designers through his editorial and commercial assignments.
Throughout his career, Horst received critical acclaim, with major retrospectives of his work being held at prestigious venues such as the International Center of Photography in New York, the Louvre in Paris, and the National Gallery in London. These exhibitions highlighted his contributions to fashion, portraiture, and art photography, cementing his status as one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.
For those interested in the evolution of fashion photography and the intersection of art and culture, Horst P. Horst's work remains a significant point of study and admiration. Collectors and experts in art and antiques are encouraged to explore his extensive portfolio, which continues to inspire and influence the fields of photography and fashion design.
If you wish to stay informed about upcoming sales and auction events related to Horst P. Horst, consider signing up for updates. This subscription will ensure you're at the forefront of the market for his enduring and captivating works.
Walde Huth, née Waldberta Huth, is a German photographer known for her street photos and portraits of famous people and fashion models.
She graduated from the State School of Applied Arts in Weimar, and after World War II she became a freelance photographer doing portrait and art photography. Walde Huth is primarily known for her fashion shots of the '50s, she also took unique stills and advertising photos, and created portraits of famous contemporaries. Her iconic fashion shots were taken in Paris. She shot the most famous models of her time not in the studio, but on location in the city, in front of the Eiffel Tower, along the Seine River, in contrast to the architecture and street life.
Walde Huth was an exceptional woman, a creative artist and a versatile photographer.
Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, known by his pen name Nadar, is a French photographer, cartoonist, journalist, writer and balloonist.
Throughout his career, Nadar shot portraits of many famous personalities, including writers, artists, musicians and politicians. Among them were Victor Hugo and Charles Baudelaire, Sarah Bernhardt and George Sand. Nadar's portraits were in great demand as he had a unique ability to reveal the inner essence of his subjects, revealing their character and emotions.
In addition to portraiture, Nadar was an aerial photographer, using hot air balloons to capture breathtaking images from high above. His boldness and adventurous spirit led him to explore new perspectives and techniques, making a significant contribution to the development of aerial photography. In 1858, he became the first person to take aerial photographs.
Edward Quinn is an Irish photographer famous for his portraits of celebrities and artists.
Edward Quinn began his career as a photojournalist, covering events such as the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. In the 1950s he moved to the French Riviera and began photographing the rich and famous — Pablo Picasso, Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly, Max Ernst, Alexander Calder, Francis Bacon, Salvador Dali, Graham Sutherland, David Hockney.
Quinn's photographs are noted for their naturalness and spontaneity. He had a talent for capturing his subjects in inconspicuous moments and revealing their true essence. His portraits often show his subjects relaxed and at ease, as if they were unaware of the camera's presence.
In addition to photography, Quinn was also a writer and filmmaker. He wrote several books about the French Riviera and made a documentary about Pablo Picasso.
JR (French: Jean René) is the pseudonym of a French photographer and artist who does not give his full name. He lives and works in Paris and New York.
He describes himself as a "photograffeur" (photographer and graffiti artist in one word) and claims that the street is "the biggest gallery in the world". His work is flyposting large black and white images in public spaces. JR works at the intersection of photography, street art, filmmaking and social activism. Over the past two decades he has developed many public projects in cities around the world, from buildings in the slums of Paris to walls in the Middle East and Africa or favelas in Brazil.
JR places large-scale photographic images in public spaces. He started creating graffiti as a teenager on the streets and rooftops of Paris and on the subway. In 2007, he gained worldwide attention by placing huge photographs of Israelis and Palestinians face to face in eight Palestinian and Israeli cities on both sides of the separation barrier. In his works, the photographer always addresses current political and social issues in the world. For example, in 2019, JR worked with a group of inmates of a maximum security prison in California and created a large format piece with portraits of the inmates.
JR has traveled to many cities with his work, participating in exhibitions, he has collaborated with magazines and created films about his work. JR has also directed three feature-length documentaries, one of which, Women Are Heroes (2011) was nominated for an Oscar. At the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, he won the Golden Eye for Best Documentary.
Jeanloup Sieff was a French photographer distinguished for his portraits, landscapes, and notably, his nudes. Born on November 30, 1933, in Paris, Sieff was known for his mastery in the use of black and white film, and his skillful use of wide-angle lenses and dodging techniques in the darkroom. His career spanned various fields, including fashion photography, where he was particularly prolific, contributing to major publications such as Elle.
Sieff's education at the École Vaugirard in Paris and the École Supérieure d’arts appliqués in Vevey, Switzerland, laid the foundation for a career that would be marked by an elegant integration of surrealism into his works, reminiscent of Man Ray's influence. He began as a freelance photojournalist in 1954 before later turning his lens towards fashion.
Sieff's photographs, characterized by an ethereal quality and a certain timelessness, continue to be celebrated in exhibitions and collections around the world. His work is not only a study of form and contrast but also an exploration of the subtle interplay of light and shadow.
For those interested in the evolution of photography, particularly in the realm of fashion and portraiture, Jeanloup Sieff’s work stands as an important bridge between the classic and the modern. His images remain a source of inspiration for photographers and a subject of admiration for collectors and art lovers globally.
Sabine Weiss is a Swiss artist and photographer who became known for her street photography and portraits. In 1942 she moved to Zurich to study photography with Hans Finsler, where she met her future husband, the American artist Hugh Weiss.
After the Second World War, Weiss moved to Paris and began working as a freelance photographer. She became associated with the humanist photography movement, which sought to capture the daily lives of people in cities. Weiss' photographs often focused on working class neighbourhoods, street scenes and children's lives. Her photographs were known for their sensitivity and empathy as well as her strong sense of composition and use of light.
Weiss's work was exhibited widely throughout her life and she received numerous awards and prizes, including the Niepce Prize in 1955 and the Grand Prix National Photography Award in 1995. Her photographs have been collected by major museums and institutions around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris.
