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What was the purpose of the Photorealism movement?
1 Answer

The purpose of the Photorealism movement was to capture the essence of people, places and things in a manner that rivaled the realism of photography. A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design. Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story. Explore a variety of Photorealist art on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertAugust 29, 2024
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Shop for Photorealist Art on 1stDibs
The Slope - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Resting against the gentle gradient of sand, a naked figure finds repose where water transforms gravity and perception. The slope becomes both support and metaphor—a study in balance...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$640 Sale Price
20% Off
Escape - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This contemplative monochromatic nude photograph captures a naked woman suspended in minimalist gray waters, surrounded by a constellation of air bubbles ascending toward an unseen s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$640 Sale Price
20% Off
Escape - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 26 x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This contemplative monochromatic nude photograph captures a naked woman suspended in minimalist gray waters, surrounded by a constellation of air bubbles ascending toward an unseen s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper
$720 Sale Price
20% Off
No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 22x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Museum-quality archival pigment print on archival paper, personally signed by th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
$960 Sale Price
20% Off
Still Life with Red Cherries, Original Oil painting, Contemporary Art
Located in AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FR
Work : Original Oil Painting, Handmade artwork, Unique Work. Framed in Solid wood floater frame with white stain finish. Ready to Hang.
Medium : Oil painting on wood panel.
Artist : Gabriel Riesnert
Subject : Cerises Rouges (Title / FR )
This original still life oil painting by Gabriel Riesnert captures the timeless beauty of ripe red cherries arranged on a delicate white plate. Painted in 2025, the artwork combines classical still life traditions with a contemporary sensibility.
Created with oil on wood, this piece measures 24 x 18 cm (approximately 9.4 x 7 inches). The smooth wooden surface enhances the depth of color and texture, while the rich tones of crimson and burgundy cherries are brought to life through subtle highlights and refined brushwork. The composition balances realism and artistic expression, offering both warmth and elegance.
Riesnert’s work often explores everyday objects with a poetic eye, transforming simple subjects into timeless symbols of beauty and abundance. This painting of cherries...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Oil
Piercing Light - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This breathtaking monochromatic photograph captures a naked woman of striking grace ascending through the darkness. Her soft, elegant form rising to meet the sharp, aggressive beams ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper


