Andre de Plessel - Original Andre de Plessel portrait, black man,
02
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Selected by Elena Vaninetti
Has over ten years of experience in art, specialising in post-war photography and contemporary art.
Estimate € 1,000 - € 1,200
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Description from the seller
100% original photo (original technique too) from the early 90s! Comes with a licensed certificate. Not a recent reprint.
Comes without frame
Original Signed Black-and-White Portrait Photograph – 1990s Vintage Fine-Art Photography, Expressive Male Portrait, Silver Gelatin Aesthetic
* Original vintage photographic print featuring a striking close-up portrait of a male subject
* Black-and-white fine-art photography with dramatic contrast, rich shadows and beautifully rendered facial details
* Signed photographic artwork — signature and attribution should be verified from the physical print before sale
* Distinctive 1990s aesthetic, combining expressive portraiture with contemporary fashion and urban visual culture
* Powerful composition emphasizing the subject’s gaze, facial expression, jewellery and sculptural use of light
* Collector-oriented photographic artwork suited to contemporary interiors, private collections and curated gallery displays
* An appealing acquisition for enthusiasts of vintage photography, portrait art, fashion imagery and monochrome prints
Description
This striking black-and-white photographic portrait captures the intensity and individuality of its subject through an intimate close-up composition, dramatic lighting and exceptional visual presence. With its powerful gaze, pronounced facial contours, multiple hoop earrings and delicate necklace, the photograph combines expressive portraiture with the distinctive aesthetic of late-twentieth-century fashion and urban photography.
The image is distinguished by its sophisticated monochrome treatment. Deep, almost velvety blacks contrast with luminous highlights across the forehead, eyes, lips and shoulders, creating a compelling interplay between light and shadow. The dark background isolates the subject, directing attention towards the face and giving the photograph a concentrated, almost cinematic atmosphere. Fine tonal transitions and visible photographic grain contribute to the image’s tactile character.
The portrait’s strength lies in its directness. Rather than relying on an elaborate setting or narrative, the photographer places the subject at the centre of the composition, allowing expression, texture and personal styling to carry the image. The result is an intimate study of character, presence and individuality, with an aesthetic that bridges traditional studio portraiture, editorial fashion photography and contemporary fine-art practice.
The subject’s jewellery and styling provide additional visual interest. The hoop earrings and fine chain introduce reflective details against the darker tonal range, while the closely cropped composition lends the photograph a distinctly modern sensibility. These elements evoke the visual language of 1990s fashion magazines, independent photography publications and urban portraiture, making the work particularly appealing to collectors interested in the relationship between photographic art, identity and popular culture.
Artistic and Collectible Appeal
Portrait photography occupies an important position within the history of modern visual art. From traditional studio studies to editorial commissions and experimental analogue photography, the genre has continually explored the relationship between the photographer and the sitter. This image draws on that tradition while retaining a strong visual identity of its own.
The close framing gives the portrait an almost monumental quality. The face dominates the image, while the surrounding darkness provides contrast and visual separation. This approach makes the photograph especially effective when displayed at a substantial scale, where its tonal subtleties and expressive details can be appreciated from both a distance and close range.
For collectors, original photographic prints offer qualities that differ from mass-produced posters and contemporary decorative reproductions. Paper surface, tonal rendering, image texture and the physical character of the print all contribute to the experience of owning a photographic object. If the work can be documented as a period print, its connection to the photographic culture of the 1990s may provide an additional point of interest.
A verified artist’s signature, where present, would further strengthen its collectible appeal. Buyers should be able to examine the signature, edition information and any available provenance when assessing the work. The photographer’s attribution, date and printing process should be described according to the evidence available rather than inferred from the image alone.
Display and Interior Styling
The photograph would make a compelling focal point in a contemporary living space, private library, photography collection or carefully curated gallery interior. Its monochrome palette works particularly well with minimalist architecture, concrete or limestone walls, dark timber, brushed metal and restrained contemporary furnishings.
A slim black frame would reinforce the image’s dramatic tonal structure, while a discreet natural-wood frame could introduce warmth without competing with the portrait. A generous white or warm-grey mount would create additional breathing space around the image, although a close presentation without a mount would preserve the intensity of the original composition.
The work is equally suited to interiors influenced by modernism, industrial design, editorial fashion and contemporary collecting. Its direct composition and expressive character allow it to stand independently or form part of a larger arrangement of vintage photographs, graphic artworks and monochrome prints.
A Distinctive Addition to a Photography Collection
This portrait offers a compelling combination of expressive subject matter, strong tonal contrast and enduring monochrome aesthetics. Its visual language connects portraiture with fashion, jewellery, urban culture and the broader history of late-twentieth-century photography.
For a collector seeking an original photographic artwork with a strong presence, this image offers an alternative to conventional landscape photography and decorative prints. Its intimate framing, detailed rendering and dramatic atmosphere give it the potential to anchor a carefully assembled photographic collection.
An expressive black-and-white portrait with a powerful visual identity, suited to collectors of vintage photography, fashion imagery and contemporary monochrome art.
Catalogue details: Photographer, date, dimensions, printing technique, signature, edition and condition should be confirmed from the physical artwork and any available documentation before the listing is published.
100% original photo (original technique too) from the early 90s! Comes with a licensed certificate. Not a recent reprint.
Comes without frame
Original Signed Black-and-White Portrait Photograph – 1990s Vintage Fine-Art Photography, Expressive Male Portrait, Silver Gelatin Aesthetic
* Original vintage photographic print featuring a striking close-up portrait of a male subject
* Black-and-white fine-art photography with dramatic contrast, rich shadows and beautifully rendered facial details
* Signed photographic artwork — signature and attribution should be verified from the physical print before sale
* Distinctive 1990s aesthetic, combining expressive portraiture with contemporary fashion and urban visual culture
* Powerful composition emphasizing the subject’s gaze, facial expression, jewellery and sculptural use of light
* Collector-oriented photographic artwork suited to contemporary interiors, private collections and curated gallery displays
* An appealing acquisition for enthusiasts of vintage photography, portrait art, fashion imagery and monochrome prints
Description
This striking black-and-white photographic portrait captures the intensity and individuality of its subject through an intimate close-up composition, dramatic lighting and exceptional visual presence. With its powerful gaze, pronounced facial contours, multiple hoop earrings and delicate necklace, the photograph combines expressive portraiture with the distinctive aesthetic of late-twentieth-century fashion and urban photography.
The image is distinguished by its sophisticated monochrome treatment. Deep, almost velvety blacks contrast with luminous highlights across the forehead, eyes, lips and shoulders, creating a compelling interplay between light and shadow. The dark background isolates the subject, directing attention towards the face and giving the photograph a concentrated, almost cinematic atmosphere. Fine tonal transitions and visible photographic grain contribute to the image’s tactile character.
The portrait’s strength lies in its directness. Rather than relying on an elaborate setting or narrative, the photographer places the subject at the centre of the composition, allowing expression, texture and personal styling to carry the image. The result is an intimate study of character, presence and individuality, with an aesthetic that bridges traditional studio portraiture, editorial fashion photography and contemporary fine-art practice.
The subject’s jewellery and styling provide additional visual interest. The hoop earrings and fine chain introduce reflective details against the darker tonal range, while the closely cropped composition lends the photograph a distinctly modern sensibility. These elements evoke the visual language of 1990s fashion magazines, independent photography publications and urban portraiture, making the work particularly appealing to collectors interested in the relationship between photographic art, identity and popular culture.
Artistic and Collectible Appeal
Portrait photography occupies an important position within the history of modern visual art. From traditional studio studies to editorial commissions and experimental analogue photography, the genre has continually explored the relationship between the photographer and the sitter. This image draws on that tradition while retaining a strong visual identity of its own.
The close framing gives the portrait an almost monumental quality. The face dominates the image, while the surrounding darkness provides contrast and visual separation. This approach makes the photograph especially effective when displayed at a substantial scale, where its tonal subtleties and expressive details can be appreciated from both a distance and close range.
For collectors, original photographic prints offer qualities that differ from mass-produced posters and contemporary decorative reproductions. Paper surface, tonal rendering, image texture and the physical character of the print all contribute to the experience of owning a photographic object. If the work can be documented as a period print, its connection to the photographic culture of the 1990s may provide an additional point of interest.
A verified artist’s signature, where present, would further strengthen its collectible appeal. Buyers should be able to examine the signature, edition information and any available provenance when assessing the work. The photographer’s attribution, date and printing process should be described according to the evidence available rather than inferred from the image alone.
Display and Interior Styling
The photograph would make a compelling focal point in a contemporary living space, private library, photography collection or carefully curated gallery interior. Its monochrome palette works particularly well with minimalist architecture, concrete or limestone walls, dark timber, brushed metal and restrained contemporary furnishings.
A slim black frame would reinforce the image’s dramatic tonal structure, while a discreet natural-wood frame could introduce warmth without competing with the portrait. A generous white or warm-grey mount would create additional breathing space around the image, although a close presentation without a mount would preserve the intensity of the original composition.
The work is equally suited to interiors influenced by modernism, industrial design, editorial fashion and contemporary collecting. Its direct composition and expressive character allow it to stand independently or form part of a larger arrangement of vintage photographs, graphic artworks and monochrome prints.
A Distinctive Addition to a Photography Collection
This portrait offers a compelling combination of expressive subject matter, strong tonal contrast and enduring monochrome aesthetics. Its visual language connects portraiture with fashion, jewellery, urban culture and the broader history of late-twentieth-century photography.
For a collector seeking an original photographic artwork with a strong presence, this image offers an alternative to conventional landscape photography and decorative prints. Its intimate framing, detailed rendering and dramatic atmosphere give it the potential to anchor a carefully assembled photographic collection.
An expressive black-and-white portrait with a powerful visual identity, suited to collectors of vintage photography, fashion imagery and contemporary monochrome art.
Catalogue details: Photographer, date, dimensions, printing technique, signature, edition and condition should be confirmed from the physical artwork and any available documentation before the listing is published.
Details
Date of print
1990
Artist
Andre de Plessel
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
Original Andre de Plessel portrait, black man,
Condition
Fine
Technique
Other
Height
610 mm
Edition
Original
Width
550 mm
Signature
Signed
Genre
Portrait
Sold by
