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.
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
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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...
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
Soft light illuminates a foggy bay as the sun rises over California's central coast. Gentle ripples in the water reflect the pastel sky, while anchored boats ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil, Board
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
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
A fallen tree stretches along a tranquil, icy riverbank, its gnarled branches reaching toward the pale winter sky. Patches of snow cling to the rugged bark, c...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A still life rendered in a realist tradition using watercolor. The bowls sit beside each other, with a curled purple ribbon bridging the gap between the rusti...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A lone palm tree sways gently against the backdrop of a bright blue sky, with the ocean below reflecting the billowing white clouds. During a trip to the Domi...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
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
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
The teapot's handle and spout mirror the stems of the plums. The interplay of the sturdy, metallic exterior of the container with the vibrant and soft flesh a...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A towering tree stretches toward the sky, its twisting branches creating a striking silhouette. The soft mist in the background contrasts sharply with the dar...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Heavy downpours left a large puddle in a rural field. The rainwater reflects the bright sky above and the silhouettes of surrounding trees. Soft, diffused lig...
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
Artist Comments
Sunlight streams through a window, illuminating a simple domestic scene. An orange pot and a single purple-hued fig rest on a woode...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A weathered farmhouse nestles at the bend of a country road, exuding rustic charm. Remnants of an orange snow fence create a vivid contrast against the dark, muted earth tones of the landscape. Intricate details and rich textures bring depth and realism...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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
2010s Realist More Art
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
A golden rose peeks out between soft pink and lavender tulips, radiating bright energy in sunshine colors. The contrast between the warm and cool tones of the...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A rose blooms quietly, its petals glowing softly in the light. The branches in the distance stretch out, piercing the night sky like steel knives. Painted wit...
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
Early 20th Century Realist More Art
Porcelain
Artist Comments
A large, prominent trunk stands tall in the foreground, its branches stretching outward against a faded, wintery background. Distant barren trees add depth to...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Grass emerges and spindly branches fan out as the snow begins to thaw. Muted tones of brown soil and green foliage blend with the lingering patches of white. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Palm trees stretch upwards, their tall, slender trunks reaching upwards. Overhead, a yellow pedestrian crossing sign with a curved arrow injects a hint of urb...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Elizabeth Garat paints a realistic vision of twilight in a dramatic skyscape. Clouds glazed in rich tones of plum, white, and deep orange dominate the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A calico cat displays its endearing charm. Painted in a realist style, artist Shuxing Fan portrays the curious gaze of his son's feline friend, with its eyes ...
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
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 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
Artist Comments
The sun sets on the Grand Canyon, leaving a blanket of soft light over its ridges. It is a magical time as a mesmerizing array of colors fills the landscape. ...
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
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
At the break of dawn, the Grand Canyon embraces yet another fleeting moment in its timeless existence. Its layers echo the majestic grandeur of this natural wonder. Artist Olena Nabilsky...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
19th Century Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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
Deep within a forest on the West Coast, golden winter light bathes the scene. Despite the chilliness of the season, the magnificence of the surroundings preva...
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
Artist Comments
Artist John Jaster captures the ethereal beauty of an oriental lily. Its raspberry-red petals, framed by crisp white margins, cradle a bright yellow-green fil...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Emil Morhardt depicts a family of aquatic birds he saw in a northern Iceland lake. "The mother bird saw me and swam across to proudly show off her chick," says Emil. With near-photographic detail, the subjects stand out vividly against a clean white background.
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
Canvas, Acrylic
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
2010s Realist More Art
Oil
20th Century Realist More Art
Paper, Lithograph
2010s Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
It's a peaceful morning, with the sun shining brightly and reflecting its warm light on the pebbles on the riverbed. The trees provide a comforting shade, cre...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
