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Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

German, b. 1954

Ellen von Unwerth is a director and photographer whose bold and erotic images of women have left an indelible mark on the visual landscape of the fashion world.

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, von Unwerth was a model in Paris for nearly a decade before turning to photography. Her 1989 images of Claudia Schiffer for a Guess jeans campaign, echoing the playfully feminine style of 1950s pinups, earned both Schiffer and von Unwerth wide attention. Over the years, her work has been featured regularly in magazines like Interview, Vanity Fair, Vogue, I-D and The Face, appearing on covers and in both editorial and commercial contexts. In 1991, she won first prize at the International Festival of Fashion Photography.

Von Unwerth’s 1995 photoshoot of Drew Barrymore for Playboy magazine is among her most popular work and, coupled with an array of album covers for such artists as Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, gave her standing as a celebrity photographer beyond the borders of the fashion world. Von Unwerth’s pictures have a distinctive look and feel, with saturated colors and dense compositions, while also, in certain cases, paying homage to great photographers of the 20th century.

The 2015 Tree of Love, Bavaria, in which a nude model reclines inside the heart-shaped hollow of an enormous decaying trunk, recalls Edward Weston’s sensuous use of the body’s geometry in his compositions. And the dramatically lit Tic Tac Toe from 2010, showing a scantily clad woman posing on a city street at night, evokes Helmut Newton’s atmospheric photograph of a model wearing Yves St. Laurent’s Le Smoking jacket, shot for French Vogue in 1975.

Von Unwerth has published several books of her photographs, including Revenge, in 2003, and Fräulein, in 2009. Those volumes have been joined by one showcasing the photos of her series “Heimat,” in which she playfully combines visual tropes of traditional Bavarian life with her signature eroticism and wit. She is represented by several dealers, including the Staley-Wise Gallery, in New York, and Galerie Trabant, in Kitzbühel, Austria.

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Artist: Ellen von Unwerth
Haute Couture, Paris, 1991, Ellen Von Unwerth
Haute Couture, Paris, 1991, Ellen Von Unwerth

Haute Couture, Paris, 1991, Ellen Von Unwerth

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Palm Desert, CA

This fabulous photogragh was taken by Ellen von Unwerth, notable German photographer. It was shot on a movie set in 1991. The photo portrays 2 women, on the set of a movie, in Folli...

Category

1990s Modern Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Glass, Paper

Crash, Elle Macpherson - nude model with newspaper, fine art photography, 2004
Crash, Elle Macpherson - nude model with newspaper, fine art photography, 2004

Crash, Elle Macpherson - nude model with newspaper, fine art photography, 2004

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Ellen von Unwerth’s Crash, Elle Macpherson (2004) brings together fashion photography, humor, and pointed social commentary in one of the photographer’s most memorable black-and-whit...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz II, Vogue Italia - FIne Art Photography, 1990
Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz II, Vogue Italia - FIne Art Photography, 1990

Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz II, Vogue Italia - FIne Art Photography, 1990

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Ellen von Unwerth’s Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz for Vogue Italia (1991) captures two defining figures of the supermodel era at the beginning of a decade that would transform fa...

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Naomi Campbell shaving - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography
Naomi Campbell shaving - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

Naomi Campbell shaving - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Multiple sizes available. Naomi Campbell Shaving, 1994 is a bold black-and-white photograph that captures Ellen von Unwerth’s fearless blend of fashion, humor, sensuality, and provo...

Category

1990s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Claudia Schiffer for Guess 1989 - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography
Claudia Schiffer for Guess 1989 - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

Claudia Schiffer for Guess 1989 - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Multiple sizes available. In this striking black-and-white photograph, renowned photographer Ellen von Unwerth captures the essence of timeless glamour and effortless sensuality, fe...

Category

1980s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Carla Bruni, Lavazza - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography
Carla Bruni, Lavazza - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

Carla Bruni, Lavazza - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Multiple sizes available. Carla Bruni is an Italian musician and former model. This black-and-white shot was created for the coffee brand Lavazza in 1995. The model is portrayed in ...

Category

1990s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Baccarat, Paris, 2007 - Limited Edition Archival Print, 20th Century
Baccarat, Paris, 2007 - Limited Edition Archival Print, 20th Century

Baccarat, Paris, 2007 - Limited Edition Archival Print, 20th Century

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

"Baccarat, Paris, 2007" by Ellen von Unwerth is a seductive and glamorous photograph that immerses viewers in the world of opulence and luxury. Von Unwerth, celebrated for her provoc...

Category

20th Century Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer from the side, without top and bare back
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer from the side, without top and bare back

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer from the side, without top and bare back

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Nude portrait of the supermodel under a sun shade - look from the side, without top and bare back Claudia Schiffer. The artwork is made and signed by the artist in a strictly limited...

Category

1990s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Bienvenue - Christina Aguilera, Close-up, Fine Art Photography, 2004
Bienvenue - Christina Aguilera, Close-up, Fine Art Photography, 2004

Bienvenue - Christina Aguilera, Close-up, Fine Art Photography, 2004

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and signed by the artist. The collector receives an additional certifica...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Last Tango - two nude models dancing, b&w fine art photography, 1992
The Last Tango - two nude models dancing, b&w fine art photography, 1992

The Last Tango - two nude models dancing, b&w fine art photography, 1992

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Other sizes and high-end framing on request. Ellen von Unwerth is one of the world's most famous and influential photographers. Her artistic achievements have been honored with truly...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Untitled

Untitled

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Ellen von Unwerth’s “Sonata” is a masterful expression of the photographer’s celebrated visual style, where sensuality, spontaneity, and theatrical storytelling come together in a si...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Eva Herzigova, Smoking in Bed - Nude Model Smoking, Fine Art Photography, 1994
Eva Herzigova, Smoking in Bed - Nude Model Smoking, Fine Art Photography, 1994

Eva Herzigova, Smoking in Bed - Nude Model Smoking, Fine Art Photography, 1994

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and signed by the artist. The collector receives an additional certifica...

Category

1990s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Champagne O'Clock - Nude in Heels in Mirrored Hall, Fine Art Photography, 2016
Champagne O'Clock - Nude in Heels in Mirrored Hall, Fine Art Photography, 2016

Champagne O'Clock - Nude in Heels in Mirrored Hall, Fine Art Photography, 2016

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Nude black and white Portrait of Topmodel Claudia Schiffer, photographed by Ellen von Unwerth in Deauville in 1990. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Guess Who, Claudia Schiffer for Guess, Nashville - Fine Art Photography, 1989
Guess Who, Claudia Schiffer for Guess, Nashville - Fine Art Photography, 1989

Guess Who, Claudia Schiffer for Guess, Nashville - Fine Art Photography, 1989

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Claudia Schiffer in jeans and bra, standing on a car. Photographed by Ellen von Unwerth for the 'Guess Who' Campaign in 1989. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple si...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Christy Turlington & Linda Evangelista - Fine Art Photography
Christy Turlington & Linda Evangelista - Fine Art Photography

Christy Turlington & Linda Evangelista - Fine Art Photography

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Two Models, black and white, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista on a boat, photographed by Ellen von Unwerth. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Claudia Schiffer in Bathtub, Archival Pigment Print, Signed, 1990s
Claudia Schiffer in Bathtub, Archival Pigment Print, Signed, 1990s

Claudia Schiffer in Bathtub, Archival Pigment Print, Signed, 1990s

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Portrait of supermodel Claudia Schiffer in 60s style with her hair up like Brigitte Bardot. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request....

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Snowy Sled, Contemporary Archival Pigment Print, Signed, 2015
Snowy Sled, Contemporary Archival Pigment Print, Signed, 2015

Snowy Sled, Contemporary Archival Pigment Print, Signed, 2015

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Snowy Sled, photographed by Ellen von Unwerth for her 'Heimat' Series in 2015. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints...

Category

2010s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Dinner, The Story of Olga, Limited Edition Fine Art Photography
Dinner, The Story of Olga, Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

Dinner, The Story of Olga, Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Multiple Sizes Available “Story of Olga” by Ellen von Unwerth is a lavish, erotic photographic narrative published by Taschen. The book follows Olga, a young woman who becomes the m...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

'Revenge White' - Seminude with White Corset, Fne Art Photography, 2002
'Revenge White' - Seminude with White Corset, Fne Art Photography, 2002

'Revenge White' - Seminude with White Corset, Fne Art Photography, 2002

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and signed by the artist. The collector receives an additional certifica...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

'Claudia Schiffer Mykonos' - in Dessous, fine art photography, 1997
'Claudia Schiffer Mykonos' - in Dessous, fine art photography, 1997

'Claudia Schiffer Mykonos' - in Dessous, fine art photography, 1997

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and signed by the artist. The collector receives an additional certifica...

Category

1990s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Playboy Bunnies, NYC - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography
Playboy Bunnies, NYC - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

Playboy Bunnies, NYC - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Ellen von Unwerth’s Playboy Bunnies, NYC, 1995 is a dynamic black-and-white photograph full of movement, blur, and playful spectacle. The image captures costumed figures in motion, t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Peaches - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print, Contemporary, Framed
Peaches - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print, Contemporary, Framed

Peaches - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print, Contemporary, Framed

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

Ellen von Unwerth is known for her erotic images, always playing with female sexuality, innocence, and the forbidden. Most of Unwerth's works portray their subjects as dominant, a po...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Kate and David - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography
Kate and David - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

Kate and David - Limited Edition Fine Art Photography

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

This photograph is part of an iconic series the famous contemporary photographer Ellen von Unwerth created in 2003 for Q-Magazine. It combines two legends, Kate Moss and David Bowie...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Claudia Schiffer for Guess - Portrait in Lace Top, Fine Art Photography, 1989
Claudia Schiffer for Guess - Portrait in Lace Top, Fine Art Photography, 1989

Claudia Schiffer for Guess - Portrait in Lace Top, Fine Art Photography, 1989

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in Vienna, AT

In the early 1990s, when Hollywood actresses populated magazine covers, Ellen von Unwerth was influential in the birth of the "Supermodel" cult. She is the photographer who helped ca...

Category

1990s Contemporary Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Crash: Elle Macpherson, New York

Crash: Elle Macpherson, New York

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer on label of authenticity

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Christy Turlington, VOGUE

Christy Turlington, VOGUE

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Edition of 15 Signed by the photographer on the verso

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Again?, New York

Again?, New York

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Edition of 15 Signed by the photographer on the verso

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Invitation Only, Paris, 2007

Invitation Only, Paris, 2007

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer on a label of authenticity

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Carmin, Paris, 2003

Carmin, Paris, 2003

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Bees Do It, Paris, 2012

Bees Do It, Paris, 2012

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Boss Bitch, Berlin, 2011

Boss Bitch, Berlin, 2011

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Pinch, Paris, 2008

The Pinch, Paris, 2008

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

signed by the photographer

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Swanky Panky, New York, 2011

Swanky Panky, New York, 2011

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, 1998

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, 1998

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Games, New York, 2013

Games, New York, 2013

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Pigalle, Paris, 2012

Pigalle, Paris, 2012

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Parading, Paris, 2010

Parading, Paris, 2010

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Private Affair, Paris, 2012

Private Affair, Paris, 2012

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Château Marmont, Los Angeles, 2011

Château Marmont, Los Angeles, 2011

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Flush: Elle Macpherson, New York, 2004

Flush: Elle Macpherson, New York, 2004

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Paint Them Black: Kate Moss, Paris, 1994

Paint Them Black: Kate Moss, Paris, 1994

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Harp Lesson, Rouilly-Le-Bas, 2011

Harp Lesson, Rouilly-Le-Bas, 2011

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Guardians, Paris, 2012

Guardians, Paris, 2012

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Nudes at the Royalton,  New York, 1992

Nudes at the Royalton, New York, 1992

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Playboy Bunnies, New York, 1995

Playboy Bunnies, New York, 1995

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Galliano, Paris, 1993

Galliano, Paris, 1993

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Just Checking: Long Island, 1997

Just Checking: Long Island, 1997

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Place des Vosges, Paris, 2023

Place des Vosges, Paris, 2023

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

2010s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Invitation Only, Paris, 2007

Invitation Only, Paris, 2007

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Unmasking: Demi Moore, New York, 1996

Unmasking: Demi Moore, New York, 1996

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Follow Me, Paris, 2004

Follow Me, Paris, 2004

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer Edition of 15

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Bonheur (Happiness), Nice

Bonheur (Happiness), Nice

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Dog Walkers, Cannes

Dog Walkers, Cannes

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Garce, Paris

Garce, Paris

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

This print is signed by the photographer and is in an edition of 15.

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Playboy Bunnies, New York

Playboy Bunnies, New York

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer.

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Karen, Nina, Danny, and Anne, New York

Karen, Nina, Danny, and Anne, New York

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

This photograph is an Edition of 15. All editions are signed by the photographer. Larger sizes may be available upon request.

Category

1990s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Penelope Cruz, Paris

Penelope Cruz, Paris

By Ellen von Unwerth

Located in New York, NY

This photograph is an edition of 15. All editions are signed by the photographer. Larger sizes may be available upon request.

Category

Early 2000s Ellen von Unwerth Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Ellen Von Unwerth black and white photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ellen von Unwerth black and white photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ellen von Unwerth in archival pigment print, pigment print, silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Ellen von Unwerth black and white photography, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Guido Argentini, Joachim Schmeisser, and Ricky Cohete.