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.
Respite #2: Yellow Bird Among Books - Oil on Canvas, 37x28 cm
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
South Downs Oil Painting, Impressionist Landscape, 40x40 cm, Signed
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
Deepdale - original realism oil painting- contemporary landscape artwork
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
Gone Fishing, Original Painting
By Dwight Smith
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A weathered wooden boathouse rests quietly above calm, gray water. A bright green bicycle leans against its side, hinting at the presence of someone who has ste...
Watercolor
Northern Hush, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In this quietly cinematic winter scene, artist Vic Roschkov captures the faded grace of an old farmhouse beneath drifting snow. Stark trees reach almost lifelik...
Watercolor
Nature's Bounty, Oil Painting
By Jo Galang
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The vibrant colors in this piece highlight a dynamic interplay of orange and green hues, evoking freshness and vitality. It captures the essence of abundance ...
Oil
Solitude in Snow, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A quiet winter stillness settles over the countryside. A massive evergreen stands sentinel beside a solitary house, framing the scene in profound silence. Paral...
Watercolor
$113Sale Price|20% Off
Christo - "The Gates New York Central Park" - color offset on heavy paper
By Christo
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Color offset on heavy paper. Based on a photo by Wolfgang Volz 2005. A beautiful artwork that looks good in every room and especially in the living room or bedroom. Can be framed accordingly. Contact us for possibilities. Christo (Christo Wladimirow Jawaschew, born 1935 in Bulgaria, died 2020 in New York) and Jeanne-Claude (Jeanne-Claude Marie Denat, born 1935 in Casablanca, died 2009...
Offset
Hidden Treasure, Oil Painting
By Jo Galang
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Jo Galang paints a tranquil river tucked in the middle of the woods. "One of the joys of life is finding unexpected treasure in the midst of nowhere," ...
Oil
$113Sale Price|20% Off
Christo - "Wrapped Walk Ways", Loose Park in Kansas City - photo offset
Lullwater Bridge – Prospect Park
By Nick Savides
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The setting is an arm of the Prospect Park Lake, known as the Lullwater for its stillness. In the foreground is the Prospect Park Audubon Center in the Boatho...
Oil
Early Morning Witness, Original Painting
By Dwight Smith
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A bluebird rests on an elaborate balcony railing of a villa. Two white windows frame the little creature's tiny body, giving emphasis to its delicate form. Dirt...
Watercolor
Golden Glow, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Jose Luis Bermudez presents a tranquil lake bathed in a radiant golden light. "The atmosphere envelops this setting, providing a sense of stability and connection to the earth," says Jose Luis. The water reflects a magical and captivating effect as the sun sits low in the sky, just above the trees. Plants reach for the last rays, vibrant and full of life, while the atmosphere glows with deep yellow hues. Jose Luis invites the viewer to contemplate nature's fleeting beauty and appreciate the magic that can exist in a single moment. The painting arrives with a thin white floating frame.
About the Artist
Artist Jose Luis Bermudez brings to life natural sceneries with breathtaking detail. His realistic oil paintings invite the viewer into a captivating, serene world of golden sunsets and peaceful wetlands. “I offer a fragment of my existence, where you can escape from daily life, visit beautiful scenes and moments, or simply recall a fond memory,†says Jose Luis. Graduating in 2008 with a BA from the San Alejandro School of Fine Arts in Havana, Cuba, he later shared his expertise as a painting teacher at his alma mater. In 2014, he took the leap and moved to Miami, Florida, seeking better opportunities. The decision did not come easy for Jose Luis to leave his home country. Yet, he encountered career obstacles that made him feel artists lacked the resources and opportunities for broader impact, access to more information, and improved working conditions. These challenges became the catalyst for his bold decision to make the move. Today, he paints in a spacious, well-lit studio, which he keeps clean and organized, always accompanied by piano or instrumental music. When he is not painting, he loves connecting with nature. He travels outside the city to places removed from everyday life, breathing fresh air and listening to self-improvement audio books to charge him with energy and continue.
Words that describe this painting: nature, lake, sunset, sun, water, realism, oilpaint, reflection, large, warm, grass, foliage, woods, evening, nature, realism, oil painting, yellow
Golden Glow...
Oil
The Rookery, Oil Painting
By Jesse Aldana
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A bright blue sky stretches over a scalloped coastline. Safe in the rookery below the cliffs, elephant seals bask in the sun, their voices blending with the c...
Oil
$3,865
Wavelength-Original contemporary still life realistic painting- modern art
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Oil, Board
Edge of Night, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Golden and orange light cuts through dark clouds, capturing the fleeting brilliance of sunset. The contrast between the fiery horizon and the brooding sky evoke...
Watercolor
III, De la Carpeta Canto General
Located in New York, NY
Lithograph, 1968. Signed by the artist and inscribed "e'preuve d'artiste" in pencil, lower right. This is an artist's proof, aside from the regular edition of 200. Framed. 23.75 ...
Lithograph
Beneath the Moonlit, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Gardani Art
Located in Yardley, PA
One-of-a-kind Realism Original Oil Painting on canvas by Gardani available for you. Hand signed by the Artist front and back, comes with official Gardani Certificate of Authenticity ...
Oil
Distant Echoes, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Bathed in quiet light, a weathered farmhouse radiates a sense of history and solitude. The faded clapboard siding, rusted tin roof, and simple lines stand resil...
Watercolor
"Oklahoma Sky" by Eve Cornejo, Oil Painting on Canvas; Vibrant Pinks, Blues
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
"Oklahoma's skies are incredibly vivid, full of color and drama, and they've always fascinated me," says Russian-American artist Eve Cornejo. In 'Oklahoma Sky', Cornejo's large, wisp...
Canvas, Oil
That's Saying Something, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A realistic animal painting depicts three great blue herons. Two of the herons are scanning their surroundings, seemingly in search of good fortune, trouble, or...
Acrylic
$1,760
Balancing Act Oil Painting, Realist Wildlife Bird Art, 37x28 cm, Signed
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
Peek - original realist oil painting-contemporary wildlife art
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Wood, Oil
Paradise Found, Oil Painting
By Eric Vanasse
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A Highland cow stands in a grassy field with a dramatic sunset in the background. The animal dominates the foreground, its long hair and large horns clearly vis...
Oil
ZigZag, Original Painting
By Renee Noel
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
While traveling from Colorado to Arizona, artist Renee Noel witnessed zigzagging clouds cutting through a rapidly moving storm over the western terrain. In th...
Acrylic
Language of the Sky, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Ocean waves crash onto the shore beneath a dramatic, stormy sky, with colors dancing throughout the scene. This seascape evokes the idea of finding light in d...
Oil
Jackson Creek Florida, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Nestled amidst the vibrant foliage, Jackson Creek emerges as the centerpiece of artist Kent Sullivan's realistic piece. The flowing water possesses an idyllic allure amidst the lush landscape, reflecting the verdant bounty that thrives along its banks. The meeting of land and water echoes the harmonious balance co-existing within this ecologically diverse region. The work serves as a poetic reminder of the profound beauty lying within reach and demanding our respect. With every delicate brushstroke, Kent invites us to reflect on the value of nature's magnificence and our shared responsibility to protect and cherish these invaluable treasures.
About the Artist
There are more places Kent Sullivan would like to paint than he ever will be able. Employing many of the Hudson River School methods in his landscapes, Kent captures the ephemeral interactions of clouds, sun and earth with his delicate use of color and gesture. His work is published in two prominent books: "Art of the National Parks" and "Picturing Florida." He has lectured at museums and been sought after by many large corporations. “Several years ago I had the incredible fortune of being part of the NASA art program. Five paintings are now part of the Smithsonian Collection. At one gathering at the Kennedy Space Center...
Oil
"Still Life" by Eve Cornejo, Oil on Canvas with Deep Browns, Near Black Hues
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This still life by Russian-American artist Eve Cornejo is simultaneously dark and full of color. The ruby red vessel in particular nearly jumps off of the canvas in contrast to the b...
Canvas, Oil
Untitled Landscape by Alfred Schlugg; Framed, 36.5" x 46.75" x 4"; Greens, Brown
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 36.5" x 46.75" oil painting on canvas by artist Alfred Schlugg depicts a large, lush forest scene. The composition and use of color, alongside the realist technique, is r...
Canvas, Oil
$1,800
Rare Milk Glass Carved Sculpture Panel Cowboy Indian WPA Artist Americana
By Abraham Harriton
Located in Surfside, FL
This is a carved glass panel. I belive this is milk glass. it is a classic Americana scene of a cowboy or frontier trapper and an Indian or Native American with a feathered headdress...
Glass
443. Portrait, Realism Oil Painting of Cow, 44x61 cm, Signed Artwork
By Paul Jansen
Located in London, Chelsea
Gallery service: Complimentary worldwide shipping is offered, with Signet Contemporary Art covering all tariffs, customs duties and import taxes, making international collecting simp...
Canvas, Oil
$59,000
"Volpaia with Trees" realist expansive Tuscan landscape painted en plein air
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Volpaia with Trees" is a contemporary realist landscape of expansive Tuscan countryside painted en plein air. The medieval village of Volpaia can bee seen in the distance at the end...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
'River Landscape' by Ludwig Knaus; Framed 22" x 20.5" Oil on Board, 19th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 20.5" x 22" river landscape by German artist Ludwig Knaus features a mature tree stretching out over a calm body of water on a clear day. Knaus portrays sunlight and shad...
Oil, Board
Glorious Summer Path Oil Painting, Impressionistic Landscape, 110cm
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
Green Bartlett & Black Grapes Still Life Painting, Signed, 25.5 cm
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Oil, Board
If You See Something..., Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Four Great Egrets stand together, all focused on something beyond the scene, while one appears to call out to the others. Artist Emil Morhardt notes that the bi...
Acrylic
$2,587
Autumn vibes still life green oil painting gold frame interior realistic light
Located in Zofingen, AG
This is one of my favorite artworks painted from nature. I like the wonderful light play in it. Comes with aged gold frame, but can be sent without it too. Painting are on str...
Canvas, Oil
$1,750Sale Price|30% Off
"Spring Journey" Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas by Tom Perkinson, Framed
Located in Encino, CA
"Spring Journey" is an original acrylic painting on canvas by Tom Perkinson. His use of saturated violets, vivid yellows, and resplendent oranges pushes color to almost-otherworldly realms. The viewer is invited to step into the painting to explore the scene within and imagine gazing at an easel of a plein-air painter with the blue sky, clouds, and terrain in full view. Here, Perkinson chose to depict a tribal group traveling during springtime with the vast sky above. Tribal members are both on foot and horseback, and comprise of men, women, and children - all trekking across the landscape beneath the foothills to a destiny unknown to us as the viewer. Perkinson describes his style of painting as "Romantic Realism," a technique that incorporates two iconic art movements. This style, in combination with the imagination of the artist, produces remarkable results, showcasing Perkinson's keen ability to capture emotion, nature, and life - all in a brushstroke. Both his technical talent and choice of subject matter pair perfectly with its original raw wood frame. The frame is by Legendwood in Sedona, Arizona, which no longer exists. Their frames are highly collectible, as they are rare, custom, and handmade. This masterful work would make a great addition to an art collection and enhance most any home, perfect for those who have an affinity for landscapes, impressionism, romanticism, realism, Southwestern Art, Native American themed art, plein-air painting, and nature. In the artist’s own words: “My color combinations aren’t in the realm of the natural world, because I don’t paint reality; I’m a painter of fiction. I try to paint a sense of place, as though this scene really does exist. I have had my collectors ask me where this scene is, and I just have to point to my head and say I made it up. Thus, I think of my work as romantic realism. I’m painting a certain reality that I’ve invented, inspired by the fascinatingly rich Southwestern landscape.” “Color gets all the credit, but it’s the values that do all the work. I don’t begin with sketches, because I want to be free to follow the painting in any direction. I start with washes of different values and tints. Then, I begin to look for a landscape. Several directions will appear to me at this time, and then I have to decide on one of them. During these first few moments, I must establish my distance from the scene. Am I a mile away or just across the river? This is one of the first steps, and I have to decide before I can continue. It’s important for working out the perspective and how things are going to relate to one another in the picture. Then, as the landscape evolves, I look for more images to add to the composition.” Artist: TOM PERKINSON (1940-) Title: SPRING JOURNEY Medium & Surface: ORIGINAL ACRYLIC PAINTING ON CANVAS (framed) Signed: HAND SIGNED BY ARTIST LOWER RIGHT Year Created: CIRCA 1979 Country of Creation: UNITED STATES Image Area Dimensions: 12 x 16 INCHES Frame Dimensions:* 19.5 x 23.625 x 2.125 INCHES *This work of art is being sold framed. If you would like to change the frame to better match your style or environment, please contact us for Custom Archival Framing options. Additional Info: HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE WORK BY TOM PERKINSON IN GREAT CONDITION IN ITS ORIGINAL UNIQUE RAW WOOD FRAME BY LEGENDWOOD, SEDONA, ARIZONA. FRAME IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH MINOR WEAR CONSISTENT WITH AGE AND STYLE. About the Artist: Tom Perkinson, born in Indiana in 1940, has become distinguished as a regional painter, known for his work grounded in the visually dramatic landscape of the Southwest. As a child, Perkinson discovered he had a love for the natural landscape, and a talent for art. He fostered that talent through classes at the John Herron Institute of Art in Indianapolis, and then at the Chicago Art Academy upon graduating from high school. He received a degree in art from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1964, before moving on to graduate school at the University of New Mexico. Here, among noted works of a larger scale, he continued to paint the landscape, and it was this work that began to reflect a new fascination with the Southwest. He had found what would become an infinite source of inspiration. Influenced by early painters of the southern Indiana landscape...
Acrylic, Canvas
$236Sale Price|20% Off
Citroen 15CV - Contemporary Watercolor & Ink Painting, Vintage Car, Realistic
Located in Warsaw, PL
Mariusz Szalajdewicz (b. 1974) Studied at the Faculty of Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology, where he mastered the drawing skill. Architect and urbanist, illustrator.
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
River Mouth, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In this piece, artist Vic Roschkov captures a peaceful natural landscape. He highlights a river mouth and a winding stream that flows through open green marshla...
Watercolor
Winter Harvest, Original Painting
By Art Clark
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A rustic barn stands covered in snow, its deep red walls contrasting with the icy blue landscape. The sky glows warmly. Inspired by a scene from the televisio...
Acrylic
My Love, Oil Painting
By Eric Vanasse
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A brightly colored parrot perches on a snow-covered rock before a tranquil lake, with snowy mountains rising in the background. Tropical foliage frames the bird...
Oil
Emerging Earth, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This painting explores the meditative stillness of a foggy morning. Artist Vic Roschkov uses a muted palette to blur the lines between sky and earth, creating a...
Watercolor
The Dread Corsairs of Greenwich, Connecticut, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A small sailboat carrying two figures glides across the calm waters of Long Island Sound beneath a wide summer sky. At first glance, it seems the very portrait ...
Oil
Woods, Oil Painting
By Shuxing Fan
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Golden light from the setting sun glows softly on one side of the woods, while the foreground rests in cool shadow. Autumn colors peek through the trees. A wind...
Oil
The Mighty Oak, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Shela Goodman paints a lone oak tree standing majestically in an open sunlit field. "It is a symbol of strength, endurance...
Oil
Red Canoe - Clark Lake, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
I came across this view of a local lake with the striking image of a red canoe sitting tied to a dock with muted background colours. I turned it into a painting with the colours in t...
Oil
Alone Together, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A pair of sandhill cranes stand on opposite sides, their intense eyes seemingly watching each other's backs. Their stoic stance accentuates as the pond they inhabit fades into the grayish rainy mist of California's Central Valley in early winter. Rendered with a loose, watercolor-like technique, the birds' portrayal carries an expressive touch.
About the Artist
Emil Morhardt is an acrylic painter from Santa Barbara, California who expresses his passion for birds through realistic acrylic paintings. He paints at home in a studio room that has large windows and a north-facing view of the mountains. He observes the animals from this window, watching roadrunners, foxes, bobcats, deer, and coyote run by. Surrounded by this wildlife, Emil paints bird portraits reminiscent of those by artist John James Audubon. He bases his paintings off hundreds of photographs he takes of birds in the wild and at wildlife recovery centers. Emil captures the freedom and inquisitiveness that birds display...
Acrylic
Roses from René’s Cafe, Hyper-Realism Oil Painting, Signed, 50x40cm
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Oil, Board
A Peach, Oil Painting
By Art Tatin
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A ripe white peach with dried leaves rests on a wooden surface. Its pinkish-red and yellow skin contrasts with the dark background. Artist Art Tatin used Flem...
Oil
The Guardian Angel
By Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM)
Located in Missouri, MO
"Guardian Angel" late 19th c. Original hand-painted KPM Porcelain In Jewel Encrusted Frame approx. 6 3/8 x 5 inches
Porcelain, Oil
$5,108
453 Portrait-original modern realism wildlife-cow oil painting-contemporary art
By Paul Jansen
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
Blue Window, Original Painting
By Renee Noel
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Pastel pink, yellow, orange, and violet cumulus clouds drift across a blue sky above a golden field. Deeper blue mountains stretch along the horizon, while sc...
Acrylic
Eighteenth Century British Oil Painting of Rustic Folk and Dog at Village Pub
Located in ludlow, GB
Eighteenth Century English Country Inn Scene with Rustic Figures and Dog, drinking and talking in the Village Pub A signed Oil on Canvas mounted on stretchers and Framed in a Morland...
Oil
Emerald Pools, Oil Painting
By Jinny Tomozy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The lake is still, and the air is crisp on an early spring morning. The emerald hues of the water at Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe reveal its crystal clear quality....
Oil
Luminous Night, Original Painting
By Renee Noel
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This panoramic scene captures the beauty of clouds drifting above the city at night. Backlit by moonlight, the clouds glow against the darkness, luminous agains...
Acrylic
White Cherries, Oil Painting
By Art Tatin
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Three juicy cherries line up on a table, with the light enhancing their luminous and vibrant color. The sharp and detailed rendition of the fruit imparts a re...
Oil
Purple Iris #4, Original Painting
By Jay Jensen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Jay Jense depicts an iris patch in his backyard. It portrays a moment of a humid spring evening, capturing a vivid memory of seeing the blooms in the lig...
Watercolor
Calm Waters, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A gently flowing river reflects the soft glow of a warm summer morning, creating a sense of calm and stillness. A towering tree casts deep shadows over the wa...
Watercolor
Breath of the Sea, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The artwork captures the serenity of the ocean. Painted with oil paint and cold wax, the waves carry a slightly raised texture, adding to the realistic qualit...
Oil