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Realist Figurative Paintings

REALIST STYLE

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.

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Style: Realist
Copy of "Wall Street - The Noon Hour" by Felicie Waldo Howell created in 1925
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful copy by an unknown artist, of the original painting "Wall Street - The Noon Hour" originally created in 1925 by the great American artist Felicie Waldo Howell (1897-1968)...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

«Free, Weightless, Brave. No.1»— Hyperrealistic Oil Underwater Nude Woman
Located in Zofingen, AG
There is so much unknown, undiscovered, and mysterious about the ocean. Much of what we are taught encourages fear—we learn about rips and currents, big waves and sharks, hear of dro...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

The childhood of Harley Quinn
Located in Zofingen, AG
Harley Quinn is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. In this painting, I captured the delicate innocence and quiet melancholy of childhood ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

British Chalk Sketch of A Flock Of Herded Sheep On Deep Green Artist Paper
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Graphite, Chalk

BE WATER
Located in Zofingen, AG
She floats where silence begins — just beneath the skin of the water. Her form is neither here nor gone, dissolving into rhythm and light. There is no past, no edge, no name — only t...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Horse with White Features Waiting at The Fence
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Dou...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Portrait of an Edwardian Dandy (Man)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Portrait of an Edwardian Dandy Gentleman, 2003. Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20 inches. Signed with monogram and dated lower right.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Tall ship at sea, dramatic sky, crashing waves, maritime oil by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Tall ship at sea, dramatic sky, crashing waves, maritime oil by British Artist Art measures 18 x 13 inches Frame measures 23 x 18 inches This is a beautifully framed maritime oil ...
Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Renewal
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Renewal" is the gentle touch of the ocean where water and soul meet, merging in a dance of light and motion. The waves envelop and carry away into a realm of quiet magic, where ever...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Echo of the Black Cat
Located in Zofingen, AG
This striking, contemporary painting invites the viewer into a space of quiet mystery and irony. A young woman with auburn hair, dressed in a dark, structured dress, stands confide...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Scottish Highlands Landscape Scene with Children & Dog Fishing by Mountain Lake
Located in Preston, GB
Scottish Highlands Landscape Scene with Children & Dog Fishing by a Mountain Lake by British Artist, Andrew Grant Kurtis M.A.(Lon) B.Des.(Hons) L.S.I.A.D. Art measures 30 x 20 inche...
Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Horse and Farmers Preparing The Hay Cart
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Dou...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

"Subtle Glory" (2025) Original Oil painting with Black Horse
Located in Denver, CO
"Subtle Glory" is an original oil painting by Brian Keith Stephens depicting a black horse with bridle and saddle in profile. It is unframed, but ready-to-hang. Artist Statement Ho...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Cotton, Oil

Mother and Child, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A mother holds her baby tenderly, her gentle smile reflecting their bond. Rich red tones and intricate clothing details stand out against the dark background. P...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Last Light" - Oil on Canvas Winter Landscape with Sunset Mountains
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Harrison’s Last Light (2025) is an original, handmade oil painting on canvas that captures the fleeting beauty of twilight as it falls over a snow-covered plain and the rugged p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

18th Century Oil on Panel Portrait of Noble Lady with Feathered Hat Signed Frame
Located in Stockholm, SE
An elegant portrait from the late 18th century in oil on wood panel, depicting a contemplative aristocratic lady seated beneath the shade of trees. The model is captured in a pose of...
Category

Late 18th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil, Wood Panel

"In Repose" (2025) By Matt Talbert, Original Oil Painting, Portrait
Located in Denver, CO
Matt Talbert's "In Repose" (2025) is an original, handmade oil painting on panel that depicts a portrait of a brunette seated at a table in deep contemplation. Artist bio/statement...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Reign" (2024) By Michele Kortbawi Wilk, Oil Painting with Silver Leaf
Located in Denver, CO
Michele Kortbawi Wilk's "Reign" is a 2024 oil on linen with silver leaf, measuring 12 x 12 inches, that depicts a white horse mid jump with a crown dangling from a string in its mout...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Silver

'Golden Tranquility' Forest Lake Scene by American Postwar 20th Century Artist
Located in Preston, GB
'Golden Tranquility' Forest Lake Scene by American Postwar 20th Century Artist, Phillip Cantrell, born in 1922. Original, Signed, Landscape, Vintage Oil Painting. Art measures 16 x...
Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Crimson Murmurs" - Oil on Linen Figurative Painting With Red Birds
Located in Denver, CO
Alexandra Manukyan’s “Crimson Murmurs” (2024) is an original oil painting executed on linen mounted to aluminum gallery wrap, measuring 30 x 24 inches (32 x 26 inches framed). This e...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

The Poor Girl – An Early Genre Scene by Julius Kronberg, 1873
Located in Stockholm, SE
This small, tenderly rendered painting— titled The Poor Girl (Den fattiga flickan)—offers a rare glimpse into Julius Kronberg’s early period, when he w...
Category

1870s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"The Bather" (2024) Oil Painting by Karen Offutt, Female Portrait, Nude
Located in Denver, CO
Karen Offutt's (US based) "The Bather" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a nude female in a landscape, bathed in light, with a towel draped around her. The painting ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Horses in the Lush Green English Countryside
Located in Preston, GB
Horses in the Lush Green English Countryside by 20th Century British Artist Art measures 20 x 16 inches Frame measures 25 x 21 inches John Haskins is a ...
Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Fancy Department Store Satirical Cartoon
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Barbara Shermund (1899-1978). Fancy Department Store Satirical Cartoon, ca. 1930's. Ink, watercolor and gouache on heavy illustration paper, panel measures 19 x 15 inches. Signed lower right. Very good condition. Unframed. Provenance: Ethel Maud Mott Herman, artist (1883-1984), West Orange NJ. For two decades, she drew almost 600 cartoons for The New Yorker with female characters that commented on life with wit, intelligence and irony. In the mid-1920s, Harold Ross, the founder of a new magazine called The New Yorker, was looking for cartoonists who could create sardonic, highbrow illustrations accompanied by witty captions that would function as social critiques. He found that talent in Barbara Shermund. For about two decades, until the 1940s, Shermund helped Ross and his first art editor, Rea Irvin, realize their vision by contributing almost 600 cartoons and sassy captions with a fresh, feminist voice. Her cartoons commented on life with wit, intelligence and irony, using female characters who critiqued the patriarchy and celebrated speakeasies, cafes, spunky women and leisure. They spoke directly to flapper women of the era who defied convention with a new sense of political, social and economic independence. “Shermund’s women spoke their minds about sex, marriage and society; smoked cigarettes and drank; and poked fun at everything in an era when it was not common to see young women doing so,” Caitlin A. McGurk wrote in 2020 for the Art Students League. In one Shermund cartoon, published in The New Yorker in 1928, two forlorn women sit and chat on couches. “Yeah,” one says, “I guess the best thing to do is to just get married and forget about love.” “While for many, the idea of a New Yorker cartoon conjures a highbrow, dry non sequitur — often more alienating than familiar — Shermund’s cartoons are the antithesis,” wrote McGurk, who is an associate curator and assistant professor at Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. “They are about human nature, relationships, youth and age.” (McGurk is writing a book about Shermund. And yet by the 1940s and ’50s, as America’s postwar focus shifted to domestic life, Shermund’s feminist voice and cool critique of society fell out of vogue. Her last cartoon appeared in The New Yorker in 1944, and much of her life and career after that remains unclear. No major newspaper wrote about her death in 1978 — The New York Times was on strike then, along with The Daily News and The New York Post — and her ashes sat in a New Jersey funeral home...
Category

1930s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Ink

Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands Realist Landscape Vintage Oil Painting
Located in Preston, GB
Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands Landscape Vintage Painting. A beautiful realist oil painting of the Scottish Highlands from a highly respected British Artist. Art measures 36...
Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Open Road Ballad
Located in Zofingen, AG
A striking composition that fuses American nostalgia with contemporary energy. A red barn with a flag, a vintage light-blue car, and a young woman in denim holding a drink embody f...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

"The Adoration of the Magi"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
18th Century Italian or Spanish School "The Adoration of the Magi" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (Framed): 109 x 197 cm Dimensions (Canvas): 90 x 170 cm No signatured Provenance: ...
Category

18th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Matthew (male portrait)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Randall Exon (b.1956). Matthew, 1990. Oil on wood panel. Measures 24 x 36 inches. Unframed. Excellent condition with no damage or conservation. Signed and dated lower right. Gallery stamp on verso. Plastic wall mount taped down on verso. Provenance: The More Gallery INC, Philadelphia; Aramark Corporate Collection. Randall Exon (b. 1956) was born in Vermillion, South Dakota. Exon earned his B.F.A. in painting from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and an M.F.A. at the University of Iowa. In 2003, the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, staged a solo exhibition of his work. He was awarded the Thomas Benedict Clarke Prize in the 2004 179th Annual Invitation Exhibition of Contemporary American Art at the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, New York. More recently, Exon’s work was featured in Visions of the Susquehanna, a traveling exhibition organized by the Lancaster Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, in 2008, and Haunting Narratives, a major exhibition at the Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, in 2012. BORN 1956 Vermillion, SD EDUCATION 1982 M.F.A. in Painting, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1981 Skowhegan School of Painting, Skowhegan, ME 1981 M.A. in Painting, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1978 B.F.A. in Painting, Washburn University, Topeka, KS SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2013 Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2009 Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2007 Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2004 Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2003 Randall Exon: A Quiet Light, James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA 2001 Mulvane Museum of Art, Topeka, KS 2000 More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1998 More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1996 More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1994 More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1993 Tasis England American School, Main Gallery, Thorpe, Surrey, England 1992 More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Theatre Gallery, Washburn University, Topeka, KS Widener University Art Museum, Chester, PA 1990 Charles More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1988 West Chester University, McKinney Gallery, Mitchell Hall, West Chester, PA Charles More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Carleton College, Northfield, MN 1987 University of Maine at Machias, University Gallery, ME Topeka Public Library, Central Gallery, KS 1986 More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1984 More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Stoneybrook School, Suffolk, Long Island, NY 1981-82 Florence Wilcox Gallery, Swarthmore College, PA Beauchamp Gallery, Topeka, KS SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2019 Unforeseeable Thereness, Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 2018 Vis-à-Vis, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, NY 2017 The New Baroque, Booth Gallery, New York, NY, curated by Robert Zeller Painted Landscapes: Contemporary Views, Heritage Museums and Gardens, Sandwich, MA 2016 Mixed Environs: Contemporary Painters, Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 2015 Home is Where the Art Is, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, NY 2014 Our American Life, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, NY 2014 Edge of the Seat, The Rye Arts Center Gallery, Rye, NY 2013 Duets: Art in Conversation, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, NY 2012 Haunting Narratives: Detours from Philadelphia Realism, 1935-Present, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA Structuring Nature, Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, AR Summer Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2011 Masterworks: The Best of Hirschl & Adler, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, NY 2010 Summer Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2009 Holiday Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2008-2009 American Green – Art and Stewardship, Somerville-Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE 2008 Holiday Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY Summer Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2007 Finding a Form: Influences in Figurative Painting, Tower Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Holiday Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY Summer Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2006-2008 Visions of the Susquehanna, Susquehanna Art Museum, PA; Governor’s Residence, Harrisburgh, PA; Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD; Roberson Center for Art and Science, Binghamton, NY. 2006 Summer Selections, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York, NY 2004 179th Annual: An Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary American Art, National Academy of Design, New York, NY Selected Works from the Ballinglen Collection, United States Embassy to Ireland, Ambassadors Residence, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Part of the Art in the Embassies Program, Washington D.C. 2001 Personal Affinities, Contemporary Artists Influenced by the works of Edwin Dickinson, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum, Philadelphia, PA 2000 December Show, Fenton Gallery, Cork City, Ireland Works from the Archives, Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, County Mayo, Ireland 1999 New Realism for a New Millennium, Memorial Art Gallery, University of Rochester, NY Indomitable Spirits, The Figure At The End Of The Century, The Art Institute of Southern California, Laguna Beach, CA 1998 Visual Poetry, A Selection of Work by Artists Inspired by the Words and Sentiments of Walt Whitman, Stedman Gallery, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ The Artist's Window, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC Embodied Fictions, Twelve Contemporary Figure Painters, The Boyden Gallery, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary’s City, MD 1997 Abstract and Image, Four Painters, Hopkin's Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH An Extended View: Landscapes by Philadelphia Artists, Levy and Paley Galleries, Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA 1996 Figure Drawings, Hillyer Hall, Smith College, Northampton, MA Figurative Paintings, Edith Caldwell Gallery, San Francisco, CA A Show of Hands (Exhibit and auction to assist AIDS research), Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA 1994 Figures in the Landscape, More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1992 Landscapes by Randall Exon & Joseph Byrne, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 1991 A Show of Hands, Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA 1991 Ten Contemporary Philadelphia Painters, Westmoreland Museum, Greensburg, PA 1991 Sport in Art, Woodmere Museum, Chestnut Hill, PA 1990 Myth and Monument, More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1990 Evidence of the Senses, 7 Painters, Woodmere Museum, Chestnut Hill, PA Pollack Award Winners, Mulvane Gallery, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 1989 Works on Paper, More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Nocturnes, More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1986 Nature Morte, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, St. Francis College, Loretto, PA 1984 The Spirit of the Coast: Paintings, Monmouth Museum, NJ Drawings: Personal and Intimate, More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Night Paintings, Florence Wilcox Gallery, Swarthmore, PA 1983 Realist Direction, Penn State University Museum, University Park, PA 1981 Graduate Student Traveling Exhibit, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1980 Selected Painters, Mulvane Gallery, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 1979 Artists Choose Artists Exhibit, University of Missouri at Kansas City Art Gallery, MO JURIED SHOWS 1990 Philadelphia Art Now, Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA 1989 State of Pennsylvania Juried Exhibition, William Penn Museum, Harrisburg, PA 1987 State of Pennsylvania Juried Exhibition, William Penn Museum, Harrisburg, PA 1984 Butler Institute of American Art Annual Exhibit, Youngstown, OH National Academy of Design Biannual Competition, New York, NY 1981 32nd Iowa Artists Exhibition, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA 1980 Iowa Artists Solon, Burnnier Gallery, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 1979 Kansas Bankers Association Exhibition, Topeka, KS AWARDS/GRANTS/RESIDENCIES 2004 The Thomas Benedict Clarke Prize, 179th Annual Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary American Art, National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, New York, NY 2001 2nd Fellowship, Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, County Mayo, Ireland Eugene M. Lang Faculty Fellowship, Swarthmore College, PA 1997 Fellow, Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, County Mayo, Ireland 1992 Washburn Fellow, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 1989 Eugene M. Lang Faculty Fellowship, Swarthmore College, PA 1988 Andrew Carnegie Prize, 163rd Annual Exhibition of the National Academy of Design, New York, NY 1987 1985-86 1984 1981 1981 1980 1976, 78 TEACHING 1982-present 1994-00 1980-82 Best of Show prize, juried museum exhibition, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA Henry Luce Scholar, Bali, Indonesia Julius Halgarten Prize for Best Painting by an Artist under 35 years of age Academy of Design Annual Exhibition, New York, NY Iowa Artists Salon, Second Prize Skowhegan Scholarship Award, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA Student Award, 32nd Iowa Artists Exhibition, Des Moines Art Center, IA Charles Pollack purchase prize for the best painting from annual student exhibition, Washburn University, Topeka, KS Professor in Studio Arts, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA Chair, Department of Art, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA Teaching Assistant to Ben Frank Moss, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA VISITING ARTIST/LECTURES 2002 2001 1998 1995 1994 1993 1994, 1992 1992 1989 1987 1986 1985 1982 Pennsylvania State University, Abington, PA Hollins College, Roanoke, VA Maryland Arts Institute, Baltimore, MD Beaver College, Glenside, PA Union College, Department of Art, Schenectady, NY Allentown Art Museum, PA Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA Tasis England American School, Thorpe, Surrey, England Boston Art Institute, MA Boston University, M.F.A. program, MA Beaver College, Department of Art, Philadelphia, PA Dartmouth College, Department of Visual Studies, Hanover, NH Dartmouth College, Department of Visual Studies, Hanover, NH Carleton College, Northfield, MN University of Maine at Machias, ME Horsham College of Art, Horsham, England Stoneybrook School, Suffolk, Long Island, NY Moore College of Art, Basic Drawing, Philadelphia, PA Vassar College, Department of Art, Poughkeepsie, NY PUBLIC COLLECTIONS Allentown Art Museum, PA ARA Corporation, Philadelphia, PA Security Pacific National Bank, Sanger Branch, Los Angeles, CA University of Iowa, Permanent Collection, Iowa City, IA Mulvane Gallery Permanent Collection, Washburn University, Topeka, KS Woodmere Museum, Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, PA Henry Luce Foundation, New York, NY Henry Wendt Collection, Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Sozanski, Edward J. “Simple Situations, in almost holy light,” Philadelphia Inquirer , February 7, 2003 Francis, Naila,“Studies in Light, Space,” The Intelligencer, January 9, 2003 Thompson, Jodi, “Fabulous Realism, seeing the light,” Out & About, January 9, 2003 Hopkin, Alannah, The Irish Examiner, July 1, 2002 Hopkin, Alannah, The Irish Examiner, January 2002 Sosanski, Edward, Philadelphia Inquirer, February 2001 Carr, Jeffrey, “Landscapes of the Imagination,” American Artist, January 1999 “On The Town,” New York Times Art Review, November 1998 Adelson, Fred B...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Cloud-Gazing Club
Located in Zofingen, AG
This artwork captures a surreal and serene moment, blending simplicity with mystery. A barefoot woman in a black dress stands on a vast, white, textured expanse, reminiscent of salt ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

"Orange Wrapped in Plastic" Oil Painting by Kelly Birkenruth
Located in Denver, CO
Kelly Birkenruth's "Orange Wrapped in Plastic" (2023) is an original oil painting on panel, measuring 5 x 5 x 1 inches. This captivating still life features an orange wrapped in a tr...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Immersed in Darkness, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A young woman walks through a myriad of water lilies, her illuminated figure contrasting sharply with the dark lake. Her posture and radiant hair create a fee...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Gifted Treasure -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Beauty Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Betises 22" by Marina Dieul, Oil Painting, Cat and Mouse
Located in Denver, CO
This whimsical oil painting by Marina Dieul, titled "Betises 22," created in 2024, features a dual portrait of a cat and a mouse. The artwork is rendered on a panel measuring 10.5 x ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of Cows Resting In The Grass Meadows
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Dou...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Woman in Hat, Original Figurative Oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan, Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism, Title: Woman in Hat, Size: 31.5 x 3...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

State of Mind 15 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

"Flemish genre tavern scene"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Unidentified Artist 17th-Century Tavern Scene Oil on canvas Framed: 113 x 103 cm Canvas: 96 x 91 cm This 17th-century oil painting captures a lively tavern scene, a popular subject in Dutch and Flemish genre painting of the Golden Age. The composition is rich in character and storytelling, depicting a group of men engaged in a card game, with coins, letters, and drinks scattered across the table. A standing woman, possibly a barmaid or concerned onlooker, leans in, while a man enters from the left, holding his hat and appearing amused by the game. In the foreground, a small child tends to a jug and tankard, adding a touch of humor and domestic realism. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting showcases earthy, warm tones and rich chiaroscuro, emphasizing the candlelit glow of the scene. The artist masterfully captures the textures of fabrics, wood, and metal, giving depth and dimension to the environment. The expressive faces and animated gestures highlight the social interactions typical of Dutch and Flemish tavern paintings...
Category

17th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Young Girl Watering Flowers – Intimate 19th Century Genre Scene
Located in Stockholm, SE
This tender scene by German artist Georg Buchner captures a quiet, intimate moment: a young girl carefully watering a potted plant on a windowsill. The warm light gently illuminates ...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Dust Storm" by Morgan Cameron, Oil painting Featuring Galloping Horse
Located in Denver, CO
Morgan Cameron’s (US based) “Dust Storm” is an oil painting on panel that depicts a red and white horse galloping with it's mane flowing. This painting is framed and ready to hang. ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Original Oil Painting Portrait 1953 large work
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Paul Briscoe, (British), signed & dated 1953 oil painting on board, unframed size: 40 x 30 inches condition: overall very good and presentable. provenance: from a private collection in England we can help arrange a suitable frame if buyers wish, prior to shipping. A magnificent large scale portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Portraits of Her Majesty in private collections are exceedingly rare and adding to the importance of this work is the fact it was painted in the year of her Coronation, 1953. Her Majesty requires no introduction from us, but here is a quick reminder of the basic facts: Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home and began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In November 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Red Plum & Pitcher" Original Oil, Teapot with Plum, Grapes, Still-Life Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Red Plum" by Blair Atherholt is an original, hand made painting depicting a teapot with grapes and a warmly lit red plum Blair Atherholt is an award-winning contemporary realist oi...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Farm Lane at Winter in Suffolk in the English Countryside by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Farm Lane at Winter in Suffolk in the English Countryside by British Artist, Kevin Curtis (1958-2009) Art measures 30 x 20 inches Frame measures 35 x 25 ...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Holy Communion of the apostles"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Unidentified Austrian Artist (18th Century) "Holy Communion of the Apostles" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (Framed): 133 x 193 cm Dimensions (Canvas): 120 x 179 cm No signatured Provenance: [If available, insert details] This grand 18th-century Austrian religious painting, titled "Holy Communion of the Apostles", presents a dramatic and deeply spiritual interpretation of one of the most sacred moments in Christian tradition. The composition is filled with expressive figures, capturing Christ as He offers communion to His apostles, enveloped in a warm and divine glow. The scene is set in an elaborate architectural background with classical columns, reliefs, and statuary, reinforcing the solemnity and grandeur of the occasion. Executed in the Baroque tradition, the painting showcases rich contrasts of light and shadow, dynamic movement, and intricate detailing. The use of chiaroscuro heightens the emotional depth, while the finely rendered garments, architectural elements, and the presence of cherubs add a theatrical yet reverential atmosphere. The inclusion of background figures engaged in various activities contributes to the narrative complexity, a hallmark of 18th-century Austrian religious art influenced by Italian and Flemish masters. Encased in an elegant gilded frame, this museum-quality work is an exceptional acquisition for collectors of Old Master religious paintings...
Category

18th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Soda Fountain (New Yorker Magazine cover proposal)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Barbara Shermund (1899-1978). The Soda Fountain, ca. 1950s. Watercolor and ink on paper, 9 x 12 inches; 13 x 16 inches framed. Signed lower right. Exc...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Ink, Watercolor

"Gipsy Musicians"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Kaspar Waldmann (1657–1720) – "Gypsy Musicians" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 100 x 149 cm (unframed), 102 x 151 cm (framed) Provenance: Private collection Historical Context &...
Category

17th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Cat Knows but Says Nothing
Located in Zofingen, AG
A woman sits in a sunlit room with soft geometric lines and a peaceful color palette of green, beige, and blue. A black cat rests on her lap, staring out the window at a calm, bl...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Marine Melody
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I depicted a young woman wading through shallow waters, her movements smooth and graceful. I focused on capturing the interaction of light with water and fabric, hi...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of A Fisherman Preparing His Fly Fishing Rod
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 7 x 5.5 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Weightlessness
Located in Zofingen, AG
In the embrace of water, weightlessness becomes our faithful companion, allowing us to temporarily free ourselves from the burden of everyday life and experience the lightness of bei...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

Young Boy Fishing in River with Cottage in Wild Meadow in English Countryside
Located in Preston, GB
Young Boy Fishing in River with Cottage in a Wild Meadow in the English Countryside by British Artist, Les Parson Art measures 16 x 12 inches Frame measu...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Allegorical Mythological Summer"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Unidentified Artist, 17th-18th Century – Allegorical Scene Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 131 x 108 cm (unframed), 147 x 124 cm (framed) Provenance: Private collection Century &...
Category

17th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

THE NEW MODEL . Vicente Romero Redon Spanish contemporary artist
Located in Pollenca, Illes Baleares
Vicente Romero Redondo was born in Madrid as the eldest of four sons. Due to the work of his father, he grew up in many different towns all over...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Pastel

Swedish Hamlet in a Snowy Winter Landscape with Birch Trees by Danish Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Swedish Hamlet in a Snowy Winter Landscape with Birch Trees by Danish Artist, Jens Christian Bennedsen (1893-1967). Art measures 38 x 26 inches Frame measures 44 x 32 inches An oi...
Category

Early 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil

"Paris Rainy Cafe" by Christopher Clark, Original Oil Painting, French Cityscape
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's "Paris Rainy Cafe" is an original, hand made oil and acrylic painting that depicts a night scene of a bustling cityscape in France. Christopher has been an artist since early childhood, when he would watch Bob Ross on PBS and mimic the famed oil painter’s art with crayons. He considers himself a self-educated artist, with his studies ranging from personal training with contemporary masters, to classical academic art technique, with much inspiration from 19th Century art and the Impressionist Movement. Christopher lived in Italy for a time, immersing himself in Italian culture and art, which continues to influence his painting. His fan base has grown considerably since his return to the US, gaining the attention of Lucasfilm and Marvel Fine Art, which both signed him as an officially licensed artist in 2016. Other clients include George Lucas, Major League Baseball, Louisville Slugger, and Fender Guitars. Christopher’s painting skills are not his only talent in the arts. He has won several national swing dance championship competitions, and also studies tango and blues dancing. He has played guitar since the age of 12, and during his time as lead guitarist for a rock band, he opened for Blue Oyster Cult and Eddie Money...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Mountain Landscape (Pyrenees) 1928
Located in Stockholm, SE
Fritz Lindström (1874–1962) Mountain Landscape (Pyrenees), 1928 oil on panel unframed 15.5 × 24 cm (6.1 × 9.4 in) framed: 26 × 34 cm (10.2 × 13.4 in) signed on the reverse Frame by...
Category

1920s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Painting of the Chrysler Building New York City by Contemporary British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Painting of Chrysler Building New York City by Contemporary British Artist Angela Wakefield Art measures 31.5 x 31.5 inches Frame measures 36 x 36 inches This vibrant cityscape by Angela Wakefield captures the electric energy of New York City with cinematic intensity. Featuring the iconic Chrysler Building rising majestically in the distance, the composition pulls the viewer into a dynamic streetscape alive with glowing streetlights, bustling traffic, and the saturated hues of an evening sky. Aesthetic Appeal: • Color Mastery: Angela’s bold use of color creates an emotionally charged atmosphere. The deep reds, warm oranges, and luminous yellows against cool urban blues evoke a sense of both movement and warmth. • Perspective & Depth: The central vanishing point draws the eye forward, enhancing the feeling of stepping into the painting. The architectural precision paired with expressive brushwork creates a rare balance of realism and stylized interpretation. • Urban Romance: There’s a nostalgic, cinematic quality to the work—like a scene from a classic film. It captures not just the physicality of New York, but its energy, its pulse. Why It’s Valuable and Investable: • Signature Style: Wakefield’s distinctive visual language—urban realism infused with vibrant expressionism—has made her a recognized and collected artist on both sides of the Atlantic. • Market Appeal: Cityscapes, especially those depicting iconic locations like NYC, have universal appeal. They resonate with collectors who seek both emotional connection and cultural significance. • Proven Artist: With over two decades of success and international recognition, Angela’s work continues to appreciate in value. Her paintings are held in private and corporate collections worldwide. • Timeless Subject: The fusion of architecture, light, and motion ensures this piece remains relevant and impactful for generations. This painting isn’t just a beautiful addition to any space—it’s a piece of urban history told through the eye of a masterful contemporary artist. Angela Wakefield has twice been on the front cover of ‘Art of England’ and featured in ARTnews, attracting international attention and critical acclaim with her urban landscape paintings of New York, London & the North of England. The style of painting has been described as ‘contemporary realism’, and is often favourably compared with Edward Hopper by collectors and art critics. Angela’s work is held in private collections in Europe and the USA, including the British Royal Family. Her admirers include leading figures in international business, filmmaking and the media. PROVENANCE: Ascot Studios...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paint, Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Harvest Time on the Farm
Located in New York, NY
This Barbizon influenced work is a moving and beautifully painted work. The artist took a strong interest in artists such as Corot and the French painters that took to depicting the...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Coastal Seascape Landscape Painting with Boats by 20th Century French Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Coastal Seascape Landscape Painting with Boats by 20th Century French Artist, Pierre de Clausade (1910-1976). Oil on canvas, Signed on the lower ...
Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paint, Oil, Cotton Canvas, Canvas

Moody Dawn Mist with Winter Trees in a Rural Village in the English Countryside
Located in Preston, GB
Moody Dawn Mist with Winter Trees in a Rural Village in the English Countryside by British Artist, Kevin Curtis (1958-2009) Art measures 24 x 18 inches F...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century Oil on Wood Panel British Coastal Landscape Fisherman Distant Sails
Located in Stockholm, SE
This captivating 19th century oil painting on wood panel depicts a serene coastal landscape featuring a solitary fisherman walking along a rough hillside path. The composition showca...
Category

Early 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Realist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add figurative paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, red, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Su Yu, Janusz Szpyt, JC Spock, and Matt Talbert. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Realist figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 0.5 inches across are also available.

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