1951
Philippe Halsman’s deep interest in the human face informed a celebrated and decades-spanning career in portrait photography. Shot in black and white, his portrait photographs feature celebrities, artists, politicians and intellectuals. The iconic photographs appeared on the covers of some of the biggest magazines, including Life, Look, Esquire and Paris Match.
Halsman was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1906. When he was 15 years old, he discovered a camera in the attic. He fell in love with taking pictures and spent most of his allowance on his new hobby. He later studied engineering, but left school before earning his degree and moved to Paris to pursue photography.
In the 1930s, Halsman lived in Montparnasse, the artistic center of Paris. He caught his first big break when he approached French writer André Gide to take his portrait. After that, many more writers and actors requested photographs, and Halsman began shooting for Vogue, Viola and Vu.
When World War II broke out, Halsman sent his pregnant wife and daughter to the United States. He could not go with them due to his Latvian passport. As luck would have it, he was pen pals with famed physicist Albert Einstein, who intervened and ensured that Halsman was granted a visa. He arrived in New York City in 1940.
In America, Halsman had to start from scratch. A turning point was when beauty tycoon Elizabeth Arden used one of his photographs to advertise her Victory Red lipstick. In the early 1940s, Halsman met artist Salvador Dalí, and the two became friends and partners. One of their most notable collaborations was the 1948 photograph Dalí Atomicus, which shows Dalí, his cats, canvas, furniture and water floating in the air.
Throughout the rest of his career, Halsman was a prolific contributor to Life magazine and his photographs were on the cover 101 times. In 1958, Popular Photography named him one of the “World’s Ten Greatest Photographers”.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Philippe Halsman’s photography.
Portrait of Anna Magnani - Vintage b/w Photo by Agenzia ANSA - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Anna Magnani (ANSA) is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper realized by Agenzia ANSA. Good condition. Dimension: 18x13 Anna Magnani was born in Rome...
Photographic Paper
Portrait of Anna Magnani in "Mamma Roma" - Vintage B/W photo - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Anna Magnani (Mamma Roma) is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper. Realized on the set of Pier Paolo Pasolini's film "Mamma Roma" (1962). Good condition. Anna ...
Photographic Paper
Portrait of Anna Magnani (AP) - Vintage B/W photo - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Portrait of Anna Magnani (AP) is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper realized by Associated Press Photos. Good condition. Anna Magnani was born in Rome,...
Photographic Paper
Portrait of Anna Magnani - Vintage b/w Photo by Agenzia ANSA - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Anna Magnani (ANSA) is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper realized by Agenzia ANSA. Good condition. Dimension: 18x13. Anna Magnani was born in R...
Photographic Paper
Anna Magnani (Mamma Roma) - Vintage B/W photo - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Anna Magnani (Mamma Roma) is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper. Realized on the set of Pier Paolo Pasolini's film "Mamma Roma" 1962) Good condition. Anna Mag...
Photographic Paper
Anna Magnani - Vintage Photograph - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Anna Magnani - Vintage Photo is a vintage b/w photographic print on single-coated paper, realized in the Mid-20th Century. Good conditions. Anna Magnan...
Photographic Paper
Marilyn Crying (1950)
By Philippe Halsman
Located in Buffalo, NY
The work offered for sale here is an original vintage silver gelatin print hand created by Halsman in 1950. This work comes in an archival frame presentation. The image alone is approximately 13 x 9. The work was acquired directly from the artist and comes with a COA and lifetime guarantee. Philippe Halsman was at one point considered the best photo-portraitist in France. He had an incessant interest in faces: “Every face I see seems to hide—and sometimes fleetingly reveal—the mystery of another human being.” Halsman’s photographs of politicians, celebrities, and intellectuals were featured widely in magazines like LIFE and Vogue. His more famous subjects included the likes of Marc Chagall, Le Corbusier, Audrey Hepburn, and Albert Einstein. He also had a 37-year collaboration with Salvador Dalí, which resulted in several famous surrealist series including the “Dalí’s Mustache” portraits...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Marilyn From the Reverse
By Philippe Halsman
Located in Buffalo, NY
The work offered for sale here is an original vintage silver gelatin print hand created by Halsman in 1953. Philippe Halsman was at one point considered the best photo-portraitist in France. He had an incessant interest in faces: “Every face I see seems to hide—and sometimes fleetingly reveal—the mystery of another human being.” Halsman’s photographs of politicians, celebrities, and intellectuals were featured widely in magazines like LIFE and Vogue. His more famous subjects included the likes of Marc Chagall, Le Corbusier, Audrey Hepburn, and Albert Einstein. He also had a 37-year collaboration with Salvador Dalí, which resulted in several famous surrealist series including the “Dalí’s Mustache...
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Cindy Sherman 'Untitled Film Still #65' Contemporary B&W Offset Print
By Cindy Sherman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paper Size: 36 x 24 inches ( 91.44 x 60.96 cm )?Image Size: 36 x 24 inches ( 91.44 x 60.96 cm )?Framed: No?Condition: A-: Near Mint, very light signs of handling??Additional Details:...
Offset
Leonora Carrington, from the series 'Ode to Necrophilia', 1962 - Kati Horna
By Kati Horna
Located in London, GB
Kati Horna Leonora Carrington, from the series 'Ode to Necrophilia', 1962 Signed and stamped with artist's copyright ink stamp on reverse Silver gelatin print, printed later 10 x 8 i...
Silver Gelatin
Sylvana Mangano (ITA), at the Museum of Modern Art, USA 1956
By Eve Arnold
Located in Toronto, ON
Archival Pigment Print on Cotton Rag Paper Including COA Printed by Eve Arnold's own bespoke printer Danny Pope
Archival Pigment
Untitled, 1960s - Kati Horna (Black and White Photography) Surrealist
By Kati Horna
Located in London, GB
Kati Horna Untitled, 1960s Signed and stamped with artist's copyright ink stamp on reverse Silver gelatin print, printed later 8 x 10 inches Kati Horna (1912-2000) was born Katalin ...
Silver Gelatin
