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.
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Late 19th Century Realist More Art
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century Realist More Art
Watercolor
19th Century Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Dark silhouettes of bare trees create a quiet, moody landscape at dusk in the countryside. The glowing sunset illuminates the horizon. Deep tones fill a marsh b...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
1970s Realist More Art
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
A roseate spoonbill stands by a clear, sparkling river, gazing at its own reflection. The soft, dreamlike tones evoke a quiet, reflective mood. The scene captur...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Oil, Canvas
1970s Realist More Art
Pastel, Ink, Mixed Media, Watercolor, Color Pencil
Artist Comments
Mulberry Creek flows into the Rappahannock River in eastern Virginia. In the stillness of the afternoon, the reflection of reeds and trees on the water dissolve...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
1950s Realist More Art
Oil
1970s Realist More Art
Pastel, Ink, Mixed Media, Watercolor, Color Pencil
2010s Realist More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, 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
Artist Comments
The full moon glows above palm trees, casting a gentle glow across billowing clouds tinged with orange and peach. Framed by silhouettes of palms rising, the squ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A snow-covered mountain gleams as the sun hits its rocky form, offering a striking contrast to a shaded, deep forest at its base. The play of light and shadow...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A sweeping landscape where rugged mesas rise beneath a vast, glowing sky. Layers of deep indigo and violet mountains fade into the distance, while golden and ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Late 20th Century Realist More Art
Watercolor
2010s Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A weathered can rests beside a Bible atop a wooden stool. Golden wheat stalks rise from a small tin cup, adding a touch of nature and warmth to the scene. The a...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A roseate spoonbill opens its wings beside a clear, shimmering river, its gaze fixed on its own reflection. Bright colors create a dreamlike scene. The composit...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A close-up view of plump red apples, their shiny skins catching the sunlight. Bright green leaves extend from the branches, framing the fruit in a lively contra...
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 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
20th Century Realist More Art
Charcoal, Handmade Paper
Artist Comments
A gentle stream meanders through a valley, its calm water reflecting the sky and trees. The setting sun cast a soft glow in the distance, leaving the foreground...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Time stands still at a derelict farm nestled in a sweeping valley. A meandering stream adds movement and direction to the scene. Towering mountains rise in the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A vast grain field stretches beneath towering cloud formations, capturing the anticipation of an approaching storm. Clashing elements heighten the tension as re...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A lone red-tailed hawk floats between lofty palm trees and the moon. Wispy clouds drift across the sky, basking in the light from the setting sun. As the nigh...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Andres Lopez captures a mesmerizing scene of glistening water with a vibrant orange reflection. The painting captures the play of light on the ocean's su...
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 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 ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A lone cabin rests beside still waters, surrounded by a peaceful winter landscape. The warm colors of the setting sun contrast with the crisp snow, marking the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A leafless tree stands amid a serene country landscape. Dark branches stretch upward against an overcast sky, creating a striking silhouette. Beside it, a calm...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, 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
Canvas, Acrylic
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
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A yellow rubber duck carries a cupcake on its back. The dark blue and purple background enhances the warm tones of the subjects. The composition exudes both s...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Pink and red poppies sway against a bright blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. The buds and deep green stems highlight the vibrancy of the petals. The sce...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Dwight Smith depicts a modern interpretation of a strawberry plant. Ready for harvest, the fruit grows from the silverware that represents vines. This wa...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A narrow, half-frozen stream winds through a snow-covered field, reflecting the soft light of a pale winter sky. Bare trees frame the scene and lead the gaze in...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A rare sight of snow covers the iconic Big Sur coastline on an evening of beauty and calm. Twinkling stars and the moon punctuate the sky, creating a display ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s 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
Artist Comments
Swirling clouds loom over a rugged landscape, depicting the quiet anticipation before a storm. Bathed in the last warm light before the rain arrives, golden gra...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
The painting highlights the beautiful blue-violet tones often seen in snowy landscapes. Subtle pale gold on the horizon complements and adds warmth to the coo...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
An expansive sky streaked with ethereal white clouds suggests both movement and depth. In the foreground, textured rocks and lush greenery contrast beautifull...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Emil Morhardt paints a swooping hawk he observed circling the sky and then landing on a tall nearby tree. The bird inspects the many gopher holes nearby. Emil captures it just as it launches a successful attack—painting the plumage with fine detailed brushwork and intense colors against a pure white background. The piece embodies the essence of this powerful raptor.
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
Morning mist shrouds a serene woodland scene. Dark, bare trees stretch their branches into the fog, creating a sense of quiet mystery. The undergrowth in the fo...
21st Century and Contemporary 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
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
