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.
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
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
Perfect Beach Day, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
"Perfect Beach Day" creates the setting of a beautiful summer day with people enjoying the sun and beach. It is a painting of fun and playfulness on a warm summer day. The main color...
Oil
Blood Moon, Oil Painting
By Jesse Aldana
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A blood moon glows softly against a brilliant night sky. A row of palm trees in the foreground reaches upward. Pale clouds drift and billow, adding a sense of c...
Oil
Rowboat, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A lone rowboat rests on a lake, securely tied to a post and anchored underwater. Ripples gently disturb the reflection of the vessel, adding movement to the sce...
Oil
$111Sale Price|20% Off
Christo - "Wrapped Walk Ways", Loose Park in Kansas City - photo offset
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
$111Sale 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
$827Sale Price|20% Off
"Nude II" - limited edition finest quality - color photograph
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Kseniia Kokovashina - "Nude II". Beautiful limited edition art photography. Printable in colour or black/white. Editions: 20. Technique: Photo...
Photographic Paper
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
Showa - original realism oil painting - contemporary wildlife 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...
Wood, Oil
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
Biscuit Before Harvest, Original Painting
By Dwight Smith
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A white farmhouse sits quietly beneath a gray sky, its brick chimneys contrasting against the muted backdrop. A red tractor rests in the golden field. Artist ...
Watercolor
Coastal Solitude, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In this evocative watercolor painting, artist Vic Roschkov captures the quiet resilience of a coastal sanctuary. Bathed in the crisp light of a northern afterno...
Watercolor
Crossed - original contemporary artwork - figurative oil painting
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
$2,024
Deep Waters-original modern realism seascape-study-oil painting-contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. Laevon Bowman captures the mesmerizing beauty of nature's mov...
Canvas, Oil
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
Kohako - original realist oil painting - 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
$1,655Sale Price|20% Off
"Nude I&II" - limited edition finest quality - color photograph - set of two
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Kseniia Kokovashina - "Nude I&II" set of two. Beautiful limited edition art photography. Printable in colour or black/white. Editions: 20. Tec...
Photographic Paper
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
Silent - Original Painting on Canvas, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Gardani Art
Located in Yardley, PA
Silent captures a contemplative moment through masterful realism, showcasing the emotional depth achievable in figurative art. This original oil painting on canvas presents a woman i...
Oil
$2,429
"The Light of Love" Floral Oil Painting, original Realism, 80x100 cm, New 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...
Canvas, 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
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
$1,721
Balancing Act - 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...
Oil, Canvas
$4,994
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
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
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
Chile Sandias, Oil Painting
By Duane Brown
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Red chiles are a great source of pride in New Mexico. In this still life, artist Duane Brown depicts the peppers as the Sandia Mountains, a range east of Albuqu...
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
Monhegan Morning - Fog and Seagulls, Oil Painting
By Steve Boggs
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Mist lingers over the distant ocean, softening the horizon and capturing the mystic beauty of Monhegan Island in the early morning. Waves and currents weave thr...
Oil
$2,686
456. Portrait - original realism wildlife portrait 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
"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. Artist Info/Bio: ARTIST BIOGRAPHY DOCUMENT IS INCLUDED Documentation: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY IS INCLUDED 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
Ralpha's, Oil Painting
By Nick Savides
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A nocturnal painting depicts Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices and Ice Cream on Avenue A in the East Village. It's a tranquil October night, with the server idly ...
Oil
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
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
Evening at the Lake, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Lush green palms border a lake, creating a serene afternoon scene. Lavender shades blend with coral and pink clouds, reflecting the warm glow of the setting sun...
Oil
The Edge, Oil Painting
By Duane Brown
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A yellow-green pear rests near the edge of a wooden table, its colors catching the warm glow of late-afternoon light. Highlights and long shadows emphasize the ...
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
$5,700
"Being There" Original Oil Painting by Robert White, Frameless Display
Located in Encino, CA
“Being There,” an original oil on canvas by Robert K. White, is a piece for the true collector. White’s careful attention to detail and vivid use of browns and reds project from the painting, immediately capturing the viewer's attention and highlighting the artist's keen ability to capture emotion and life - all in a brushstroke. White's talent for depicting light and shadow provides the foundation for him to deliver subjects and scenes to the viewer's eye. 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 cityscapes, theater, and architecture. In the artist’s own words, “I don’t paint what is inside of me; I paint what I see outside of me. I’m an observer. If I see something and I feel an affinity for it, something just clicks in my head. I’ll make the decision right then and there to paint that particular subject during that particular moment. It’s a perfect moment. Once something has caught my eye and I’ve heard the “perfect” click, it’s like a photograph has been taken in my mind’s eye. I only have a few days of clarity with that image. I have to start the painting quickly or else it will be gone and I will lose that image forever.” Artist: ROBERT KENNETH WHITE...
Oil, Canvas
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
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
$1,619
The Young Stowaways - original realism still life oil painting-contemporary 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
Mouse Seeking Butterfly- 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
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
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
Sun Ripened, Original Painting
By Dwight Smith
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Complementary colors take center stage in this still life. Purple plums rest in a yellow bowl, creating an immediate impact of bright hues. Above, a brightly ...
Watercolor
$2,159
Blue Ming Rising - 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
View from the Bridge, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A quiet river winds through a grove of trees. The warm glow at the horizon in mid-October creates a dreamlike mist and softens the scene.Artist Candice Eisenfel...
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
Flight Path II, Oil Painting
By Mandy Main
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Sweeping, layered clouds fill the sky, creating a dramatic contrast between light and shadow. Gentle waves with soft white foam at their crest roll towards the ...
Oil
$1,862
The Essence of Harmony - original realism floral oil painting - contemporary 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...
Canvas, Oil
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
Forgotten Dwelling, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A weathered farmhouse stands silent against a late fall sky, its boarded windows holding the echoes of another time. Dry grasses and bare trees seem to lean inw...
Watercolor
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
For the Prodigal, Original Painting
By Dwight Smith
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Barns stand as a sanctuary for many farms across America. In this painting, a lit lantern in a high window of the structure acts as a guiding light under the ...
Watercolor
$4,859
392. Portrait- original realism wildlife portrait 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
$4,994
452. Out of the Darkness - original realism wildlife 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
Naked Tree, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A stark, leafless tree stretches its branches toward a soft, clouded sky. Its weathered trunk stands as a testament to passing time. Beside it, a vibrant, full-...
Watercolor
$2,686
463. Portrait - original realism wildlife portrait 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