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Realist Art

REALIST STYLE

Realist art attempts to portray its subject matter without artifice. Similar to naturalism, authentic realist paintings and prints see an integration of true-to-life colors, meticulous detail and linear perspectives for accurate portrayals of the world. 

Work that involves illusionistic techniques of realism dates back to the classical world, such as the deceptive trompe l’oeil used since ancient Greece. Art like this became especially popular in the 17th century when Dutch artists like Evert Collier painted objects that appeared real enough to touch. Realism as an artistic movement, however, usually refers to 19th-century French realist artists such as Honoré Daumier exploring social and political issues in biting lithographic prints, while the likes of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painting people — particularly the working class — with all their imperfections, navigating everyday urban life. This was a response to the dominant academic art tradition that favored grand paintings of myth and history. 

By the turn of the 20th century, European artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, were experimenting with nearly photographic realism in their work, as seen in the attention to every botanical attribute of the flowers surrounding the drowned Ophelia painted by English artist John Everett Millais.

Although abstraction was the guiding style of 20th-century art, the realism trend in American modern art endured in Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and other artists’ depictions of the complexities of the human experience. In the late 1960s, Photorealism emerged with artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes giving their paintings the precision of a frame of film.

Contemporary artists such as Jordan Casteel, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Aliza Nisenbaum are now using the unvarnished realist approach for honest representations of people and their worlds. Alongside traditional mediums, technology such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive installations are helping artists create new sensations of realism in art.

​​Find authentic realist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Realist
Landscape. 1942, cardboard, oil, 50x69.5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Landscape. 1942., cardboard, oil, 50x69.5 cm Oto Pladers (1897.8.III – 1970.2.V) Oto Pladers learned in Riga city school of art (1913 – 15). He was called into the army in 1916 and ...
Category

1940s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Mystery mid century nude.
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mystery mid century, modern nude. Very well drawn charcoal or chalk on paper. I believe this is probably from the mid 20th century it is signed lower right but I cannot make it out. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Charcoal

At the kolkhoz club on a holiday. Cardboard, tempera, 42x80 cm
Located in Riga, LV
At the kolkhoz club on a holiday. Cardboard, tempera, 42x80 cm
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Cardboard, Tempera

Andean Motmot, Bird, Watercolor Handmade Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
174 Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan, Work: Original Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Watercolor on Paper Year: 2023 Style: Classic Art Title: Andean Motmot Size: 12 x 16...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

The Journey's End II (Hand-printed cyanotype, 30 x 17 inches)
Located in Oakland, CA
Unframed. 2023. Signed on the back. Narrower than "The Journey's End." This photograph was taken a year after the artist's husband died, revisiting the same path but photographing ...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Photogram

"Citrus and Brass", Still Life Oil Painting featuring a Brass Jar and Orange
Located in Denver, CO
Jeff Legg's (US based) "Citrus and Brass" is an oil painting created in 2022 depicting a golden brass jar with purple leaves, grapes and orange citrus. About the artist: Jeff C. Leg...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Original "Japan" Buddah and Bicycle travel poster.
Located in Spokane, WA
Original Japan serigraph travel poster. Linen backed in very find condition, ready to frame. The prominent fuchsia colors suggest vibrancy and energy, reflecting the liveliness ...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Screen

Pocket Mauve Anemone 2 (c), Original Painting, Flower, Nature, Spring art
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Mauve Anemone 2 (c) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque ...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Bluff #2", Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Len Chmiel's (US based) "Bluff #2" is an oil painting created in 2022 depicting two trees in a desert landscape. About the artist: There is an intimacy and honesty about the subjec...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

New York City Oil Painting Michael Budden 5th Ave Elegence & Bergdorf Goodmans
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Along 5th Avenue Elegance & Bergdorf Goodmans oil/panel 10 x 16 unframed, 15.38 x 21.38 framed An oil painting on canvas panel by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

'Harlequin Hails the Sea'
Located in Cambridge, GB
'Harlequin Hails the Sea' CLAUDE HARRISON R.A., A.R.C.A. R.P. 1922-2009 Watercolour on paper, signed, dated 1994, 15 x 21 cms. Claude Harrison studied at Preston College of Art,...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Reflection - 1971 Serigraph - HAND-SIGNED, Limited edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sku: XX1320-B Artist: Will Barnet Title: Reflection Year: 1971 Signed: Yes Medium: Serigraph Paper Size: 30 x 23.25 inches ( 76.2 x 59.055 cm ) Image Size: 22 x 14.25 inches ( 55.88 ...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Screen

Triptych of Pocket Striped Bellona Tulip, Veronique Tulip and Upstar Tulip
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Striped Bellona Tulip is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroqu...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Academic nudes painter - 19th century figure drawing - Pencil paper Italy
Located in Varmo, IT
Italian painter (19th-20th century) - Academic male nude. 39.5 x 33 cm without frame, 60.5 x 54 cm with frame. Pencil and white chalk drawing on paper, in a lacquered wooden frame....
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Pencil, Paper

Academic nudes painter - 19th century figure drawing - Pencil paper Italy
Located in Varmo, IT
Italian painter (19th-20th century) - Academic male nude. 44 x 44 cm without frame, 54 x 54 cm with frame. Pencil drawing and white chalk on paper, in a lacquered wooden frame. Co...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Thriving in Adversity
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Fabric, Canvas

Portrait of a Bride - British 1934 Romantic art female portrait oil painting
Located in London, GB
This beautiful British 1930's portrait oil painting is by noted artist Frank Owen Salisbury or Frank O'Salisbury as he is also known. Painted in 1934, the composition is a half lengt...
Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Slim Aarons 'Fan Mail', Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962), wearing a red negligee trimmed with black lace, sorts out her fan mail shortly after her film 'The Asphalt Jungle' had been released, Beverly Hills, 195...
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Salome (You and I in Color 2)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Two of a Kind - original realism wildlife acrylic painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Two of a Kind" by Amber Tyldesley captivates with its depiction of two zebras at the center of the canvas, their striking black and white stripes standing out against a soft, blurre...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Eat Your Greens - original realism wildlife acrylic painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Eat Your Greens" by Amber Tyldesley invites viewers into a vibrant world where two pandas take center stage, their black and white fur starkly contrasting against a vivid green and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Preparation for the New Day
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Secret Place - original realism wildlife acrylic painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
"A Secret Place," a serene masterpiece by Amber Tyldesley, beckons viewers into a tranquil oasis where a leopard sits poised to the right of a cascading waterfall, its gaze drawing u...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Baby Steps - original realism wildlife acrylic painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
“Baby Steps” by Amber Tyldesley tenderly portrays the bond of maternal protection amidst the untamed beauty of the wild. In this acrylic masterpiece, a mother tiger gently guides her...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Oil On Canvas Reclining Nude at the beach By Marcel René Herrfeldt
By Marcel Rene Herrfeldt
Located in Gavere, BE
"Oil On Canvas Reclining Nude By Marcel René Herrfeldt" Beautiful and large oil on canvas The painting is large in size and is in good condition ...
Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Shielded
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Eye's To The Sky" Longhorn Under Open Sky, Original Oil & Wax Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Brian Keith Stephens' "Eye's To The Sky" is a captivating original artwork, measuring 42 x 55 inches, created in 2024 using oil and wax on cotton. This piece, unframed yet ready to h...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Wax, Cotton, Oil

Adaugo (You and I in Color 3)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic

20th Century Solid Bronze Nude Ballet Dancer 'Preparation' by Benson Landes
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
'Preparation' is a 20th Century Solid Bronze ballet Dancer by Benson Landes. For Benson Landes, sculpture was most definitely a passion. His oeuvre of cast bronzes is populated wit...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

Portland Roads & Sandsfoot Castle, Dorset. Weymouth. 1856. Chesil Beach. Harbor.
Located in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset
Frederick Lee Bridell. English ( b.1831 – d.1863 ). Portland Roads and Sandsfoot Castle from Weymouth, 1856. Watercolor, bodycolor and pen & ink on paper Signed & dated lower left. I...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

Slim Aarons 'Fan Mail', Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962), wearing a red negligee trimmed with black lace, sorts out her fan mail shortly after her film 'The Asphalt Jungle' had been released, Beverly Hills, 195...
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

New York City Winter Snow Central Park Carriage Ride Oil Painting Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Winter Afternoon Snowy Carriages is an oil painting by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases a view of carriages in Central Park. Central Park and the Plaza...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Skiing Waiters Estate Edition Photograph (Vintage Winter Snowscape)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three skiing waiters on a ski slope, circa 1960. In the foreground, a white-clad chef skis towards the viewer, offering a beautifully prepared bird on a tray. Behind him, a man in a ...
Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Fan Mail', Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962), wearing a red negligee trimmed with black lace, sorts out her fan mail shortly after her film 'The Asphalt Jungle' had been released, Beverly Hills, 195...
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Study (Stardust), 7 x 12, Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Robin Cole's "Study (Stardust)," a 2023 oil on panel, invites the viewer into the cosmic dance of interstellar beauty. This exquisite piece, measuring 7 x 12 inches, is framed to a s...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Landing Place, 18 x 22.5, Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Robin Cole's 2023 piece, "Landing Place," is a poignant example of the artist's engagement with the classical landscape genre, presented in oil on mounted linen. The dimensions of th...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Spaniel - British Edwardian art dog portrait oil painting
Located in London, GB
This gorgeous British Edwardian dog portrait oil painting is by noted animal artist Robert Morley. Painted circa 1910 the composition is of a black and white spaniel, sitting down, a...
Category

1910s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Tapestry, 16 x 16, Portrait, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Robin Cole's "Tapestry," a 2024 creation in oil on mounted linen, measures 16 x 16 inches and is framed to a stately 22 x 22 inches. This artwork weaves a visual narrative as intrica...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Domingo In Salzburg, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Spanish tenor Placido Domingo in the back of a car at Mozartplatz in Salzburg, in front of the Mozart memorial, August 1981. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity ...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Antonio Ruiz Soler, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A flamenco dancer raises his hat in front of a poster advertising the virtuoso dancer Antonio (Antonio Ruiz Soler) in the national premiere of 'Ballet Espanol'. (Photo by Slim Aarons...
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Ladder to the Stars, 24 x 18 Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Discover the ethereal beauty of Robin Cole’s “Ladder to the Stars,” a 2023 original oil on panel masterpiece measuring 24 x 18 inches. The framed dimensions add a grandeur presence a...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

OIL PAINTING 19th Century By Robert E . Roe British old master Gold Gilt Frame
Located in Ferndown, GB
VERY RARE Oil PAINTING Antique 19th Century By Listed artist British old master OLD MASTER OIL PAINTING BRITISH SCHOOL 19th Century Gold Frame Description Late 19th century “Good...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Study I (Surrender), 6 x 4, Waterfall Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Robin Cole's "Study I (Surrender)," completed in 2023, is a captivating example of contemporary realism expressed through the timeless medium of oil on mounted linen. This original ...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Cornish Family in an Interior - British 1912 Newlyn School art oil painting
Located in London, GB
This superb British figurative interior oil painting is by noted Newlyn school artist Harold Harvey. Painted circa 1912 the composition is a Cornish family, bathed in golden light, s...
Category

1910s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

The Same Moon, 20 x 13, Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Behold the quiet majesty of "The Same Moon," an evocative oil on panel by the artist Robin Cole, crafted in the year 2024. This original painting, sized at 20 x 13 inches (50.80 x 33...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Maiden, Mother, 14.75 x 10.5, Portrait, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Available now is Robin Cole's "Maiden, Mother," a striking oil on mounted linen portrait from 2021. This intimate artwork measures 14.75 x 10.50 inches, and the framed dimensions pre...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Embryo III, 6 x 6 Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Venture into the profound depths of creation with Robin Cole's "Embryo III," an original 2023 oil on panel that measures 6 x 6 inches (15.24 x 15.24 cm), elegantly presented within a...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Everblooming, 20 x 10, Still Life, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Introducing "Everblooming," an original oil on mounted linen by contemporary artist Robin Cole, dated 2024. The painting, sized at 20 x 10 inches (50.80 x 25.40 cm), with framed dime...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Antonio Ruiz Soler, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A flamenco dancer raises his hat in front of a poster advertising the virtuoso dancer Antonio (Antonio Ruiz Soler) in the national premiere of 'Ballet Espanol'. (Photo by Slim Aarons...
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Domingo In Salzburg, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Spanish tenor Placido Domingo in the back of a car at Mozartplatz in Salzburg, in front of the Mozart memorial, August 1981. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity ...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Antonio Ruiz Soler, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A flamenco dancer raises his hat in front of a poster advertising the virtuoso dancer Antonio (Antonio Ruiz Soler) in the national premiere of 'Ballet Espanol'. (Photo by Slim Aarons...
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Domingo In Salzburg, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Spanish tenor Placido Domingo in the back of a car at Mozartplatz in Salzburg, in front of the Mozart memorial, August 1981. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity ...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

New York City Urban Painting Winter Brooklyn Bridge by Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
An oil painting on canvas by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases the bustling life and the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge in winter. The image measures 20 x 24...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Study III (Surrender), 6 x 4, Waterfall Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Robin Cole's "Study III (Surrender)" is an original 2023 oil on mounted linen painting that conveys a compelling narrative of emotional release. The artwork's dimensions are 6 x 4 in...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Study II (Surrender), 6 x 4, Waterfall Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Study II (Surrender)" by Robin Cole is a 2023 original work, utilizing oil on mounted linen to exquisite effect. The painting's dimensions of 6 x 4 inches, set within a 10.5 x 7.5-i...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

River Bure, Norfolk. East Anglia. English Rural Landscape. Tugboat and Barges.
Located in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset
Rowland Hilder. British ( b.1905 - d.1993 ). River Bure, Norfolk. Oil on Board. Signed. Image size 15.6 inches x 19.3 inches ( 39cm x 49cm ). Frame size 23.2 inches x 26.8 inches ( ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Study (The Space Between), 8 x 10, Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Explore the delicate nuances of Robin Cole’s “Study (The Space Between),” a 2023 oil on linen original, sized at 8 x 10 inches. This artwork is thoughtfully framed, with the external...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Study (Terra Incognita), 6 x 8, Landscape, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Step into the mysterious allure of the natural world with Robin Cole's "Study (Terra Incognita)," a captivating original oil on mounted linen painting from 2023. This piece, measurin...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Realist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Slim Aarons, Michael Budden, Daniel Pollera, and Su Yu. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Realist art, so small editions measuring 0.1 inches across are also available.

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