Realist More Art
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.
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
Artist Jose Luis Bermudez captures a verdant tapestry of nature where dainty daisies dominate the scene. "This represents na...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Olena Nabilsky draws inspiration from the vast expanse of open space to create a stunning depiction of a rocky valley in ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil, Panel
Artist Comments
Inspired by a twilight he witnessed, artist Jose Luis Bermudez captures the setting sun on a natural landscape. Bathed in su...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
20th Century Realist More Art
Offset
Artist Comments
Artist John Jaster illustrates a dramatic still life in high contrast realism. A vintage blue campfire coffee pot sprouts a dynamic arrangement of colorful fl...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
20th Century Realist More Art
Offset
Late 19th Century Realist More Art
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Photographic Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Paper
Artist Comments
Early autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.
About the Artist
Nikolay Rizhankov was born in Moscow, Russia and lived in Armenia for ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
1950s Realist More Art
Oil
1960s Realist More Art
Pencil, Postcard, Pen
Late 19th Century Realist More Art
Porcelain, Oil
Mid-20th Century Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Realist More Art
Watercolor
Late 19th Century Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
An atmospheric seascape captures a dynamic sunset through vivid gradients of orange and yellow stretching across the sky while the ocean glows in deep red. Brig...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
1980s Realist More Art
Oil, Cardboard
19th Century Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Oil, Panel
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Giclée
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Linen, Acrylic
Early 19th Century Realist More Art
Engraving, Aquatint
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Linen, Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
1990s Realist More Art
Watercolor
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Sunset reveals the vast grandeur of the Grand Canyon. The rugged cliffs glow with deep amber and violet hues beneath a sky brushed with luminous pastel clouds. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Late 20th Century Realist More Art
Paper
Artist Comments
A breaking wave surges forward in a crystal blue sea, capturing a moment of raw energy near the shore. Water spray scatters through the air, emphasizing its pow...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A peaceful valley with billowing clouds overhead invites immersion in the calmness of nature. The scene calls with the song of solitude and simplicity. It is a ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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 ye...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
1990s Realist More Art
Oil, Masonite
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
A lone cypress, bathed in the golden light of sunset, stands tall against the rising sea. The cool, dark foreground contrasts with the warm, glowing backgroun...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
20th Century Realist More Art
Charcoal, Handmade Paper
1870s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A weathered yellow cottage with a red roof stands alone on the prairie, surrounded by wildflowers and a rustic fence. Dark clouds gather overhead, adding a sens...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Photographic Paper
Artist Comments
Artist Shela Goodman paints a lone oak tree standing majestically in an open sunlit field. "It is a symbol of strength, endurance...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Towering clouds drift lazily over an island, creating a sense of awe and tranquility. Inspired by artist Kat Bergman's time spent on the North Shore of Oahu, this piece captures the quiet isolation and beauty of the landscape. The composition invites the viewer to imagine themselves on a secluded beach immersed in the peaceful rhythm of nature.The artwork comes with a natural wood frame.
About the Artist
Artist Kat Bergman paints landscapes and natural scenes in a realistic style, often infused with serenity and tranquility. "With each piece, there is always some extent of self-discovery and healing that occurs," says Kat. She channels deep human emotion in her work, capturing beauty, sorrow, and resilience through her art. After raising two sons as a single mother and building a career as a Quality Director in the electronics industry, she retired in 2015 to pursue painting full-time. She works in her home studio, a dedicated space within her large garage, which she keeps mostly tidy. When not creating, Kat enjoys reading, baking, and working on a cookbook.
Words that describe this painting: cloud, island, cloudscape, ocean, sea, tranquil, sky, water, Hawaii...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A stretch of yellow mustard fields contrasts beautifully with the bright blue sky. Fluffy clouds drift overhead, adding depth and movement to the scene. The pai...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The warm colors of an August sunset spread across the vibrant Pacific sky. Gentle reflections dance on the calm ocean surface. The scene radiates a serene energ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Ceramic, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
2010s Realist More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
