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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A plump green pear sits among scattered wine corks. The white background highlights the speckled skin of the fruit and the rustic appearance of the stoppers. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Shela Goodman paints a lone oak tree standing majestically in an open sunlit field. "It is a symbol of strength, endurance...
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Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Oil, Panel
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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...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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This oil painting captures the warmth of an evening sunset, casting a golden glow over a serene pond. The rich hues of the trees contrast with the vibrant ref...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Brightly colored brown eggs rest on top of a rustic safe, depicting them as treasures. It is a thought-provoking still-life that questions the price of food in ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
1910s Realist More Art
Etching
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
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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A rustic blue cottage, weathered by time, nestles among vibrant wildflowers. It was once the home of a widow who lost her loving hus...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
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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
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An abandoned house stands in solitude atop a mountain, its peeling paint and broken roof telling stories of time gone by. Wildflowers scatter around. Twisted tr...
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Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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A banjo rests on a sunlit step beside a glass of wine and a bouquet of flowers. A weathered wooden door and cracked wall behind it add rustic charm. Rich, class...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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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 television ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
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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 ...
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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...
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Acrylic
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A house proudly stands against a fiery sky, its weathered walls and darkened windows hinting at stories left untold. Artist Art Clark drew inspiration from his ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
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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...
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Watercolor
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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...
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Watercolor
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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...
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Watercolor
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Dawn's first rays bathe the Los Angeles skyline, casting a burnished glow over the iconic palm trees. Billowing clouds add a touch of softness to the scene. T...
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Oil
20th Century Realist More Art
Offset
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A weathered country home seamlessly blends into its surroundings. Dry, golden grass adds warmth to the scene, contrasting the dark foliage and overcast sky. ...
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Watercolor
1980s Realist More Art
Pastel, Ink, Mixed Media, Watercolor, Color Pencil
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A large, prominent trunk stands tall in the foreground, its branches stretching outward against a faded, wintery background. Distant barren trees add depth to...
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Watercolor
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In a strange cave, a delicate rose unfolds its creamy white petals and reveals its peachy center. The flower faces a new branch with two buds, like a mother p...
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Oil
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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 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 ...
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Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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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 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
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Sunlight streams through a window, illuminating a simple domestic scene. An orange pot and a single purple-hued fig rest on a woode...
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Watercolor
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An expansive sky streaked with ethereal white clouds suggests both movement and depth. In the foreground, textured rocks and lush greenery contrast beautifull...
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Oil
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A cluster of green winter grapes hangs from a single stem, standing out against a stark black background. Each grape displays lif...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
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...
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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 ...
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Oil
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
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...
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Oil
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-...
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Watercolor
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A wooden basket contains a variety of apples and a World Series baseball. Painted realistically, this still-life watercolor ho...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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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...
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Acrylic
1980s Realist More Art
Acrylic, Canvas
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
Late 19th Century Realist More Art
Wood, Oil
Artist Comments
The late afternoon light casts a soft glow on the mountain peaks. Purple irises bloom in the foreground, adding a touch of color to the moody landscape. Althoug...
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Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
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...
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Oil
2010s Realist More Art
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
1960s Realist More Art
Pencil, Postcard, Pen
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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 ...
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Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Jesse Aldana presents a peaceful grassland with a well-trodden path leading inward. Inspired by two early morning spring hikes—the background comes f...
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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
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 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
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
