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.
$1,400Sale Price|33% Off
Venetian painter – 19th c. Guardesque Venice lagoon – San Cristoforo
Located in Varmo, IT
Venetian painter (19th-20th century) — Venice, view of the Island of San Cristoforo della Pace. 35 x 45 cm (unframed) - 46 x 56 cm (framed). Oil on canvas, in a gilded and pain...
Canvas, Oil
Lullwater Bridge – Prospect Park
By Nick Savides
Located in San Francisco, CA
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...
Oil
![[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Man with Ropes and Rings](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-man-with-ropes-and-rings-for-sale/a_9323/a_34789511540921014664/Man_with_Ropes_and_Rings_artnet_master.jpg?width=240)
[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Man with Ropes and Rings
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas mounted to Masonite Signed in red, u.r. $7000.00 + $350.00 framing This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “Bruce Sargeant is a mythic figure ...
Oil, Masonite, Canvas
$1,980Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American Fluffy Pomeranian Dog Portrait Wide Gold Frame Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Incredible signed early American dog portrait painting. Oil on board. Signed. Housed in a period gold giltwood frame.
Canvas, Oil
$2,800
Oil Painting Israeli Bronze Menorah Tallit Judaica Still Life Bar Mitzvah Scene
Located in Surfside, FL
Frame is 23 X 27, Canvas is 16 X 20 Born in Milan, Italy Lupetti studied at the Royal Academy in Rome where he received classical training and was apprenticed to the school of rest...
Canvas, Oil
Hidden Treasure, Oil Painting
By Jo Galang
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Jo Galang paints a tranquil river tucked in the middle of the woods. "One of the joys of life is finding unexpected treasure in the midst of nowhere," ...
Oil
Nature's Bounty, Oil Painting
By Jo Galang
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The vibrant colors in this piece highlight a dynamic interplay of orange and green hues, evoking freshness and vitality. It captures the essence of abundance ...
Oil
$525Sale Price|30% Off
Mid Century Crystal and Glass Still Life
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous midcentury painting of crystal decanter and clear glass vessels against a vivid orange backdrop by Donald Werden (American, b. 1921). Signed and...
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
$2,853Sale Price|20% Off
Young Boy - Scottish art 19th Century oil painting male portrait ginger hair
Located in Hagley, England
A fine Scottish Victorian head and shoulders portrait oil painting of a sweet young boy with bright blue eyes. Pictured against a dark background, his face is beautifully illuminated...
Oil
LARGE OIL PAINTING JOHN WILSON CARICHAEL 1799 -1868
By John Wilson Carmichael
Located in Ferndown, GB
OIL PAINTING ATTR to JOHN WILSON CARICHAEL 1799 to 1868 FINE 19th CENTURY BRITISH Original Antique Large Early 19th Century British OIL PAINTING Romantic Sea Scene GOLD GILT FRAME ...
Oil
Upstate, Green, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Upstate" by Shawn Krueger (United States) is a handmade landscape oil painting that is unframed, but ready to hang.
Oil
Pulp Fiction Cover Illustration for Lady Chatterley's Daughter
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Raymond Johnson (1915-1997). Cover Illustration for Lady Chatterley's Daughter by Patricia Robins, 1962. Gouache on illustration board, image measures 15 x 18 inches. Beautiful an...
Gouache, Illustration Board
$1,250Sale Price|28% Off
Floral Still Life of Pink Roses
Located in Plano, TX
Floral still life of pink roses in a red vase with two figures, set against a dark background. Oil on canvas measures 15 3/4 x 11 7/8; frame dimensions measure 20 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 2 3/...
Oil
"Apricots are in bloom despite the frost"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Spring. The apricot trees are in bloom even though there are still frosts.
Oil, Cardboard
$219
Spring Collection: Pocket Bluebells, Baroque Still Life, Flower art, Realism
Located in Deddington, GB
Spring Collection: Pocket Bluebells is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to...
Canvas, Oil
$2,566
Such Times, Such Fruits Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Signed, 75x95 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting reimagines Valentin Serov’s iconic “Girl with Peaches” through the emotional and psychological lens of contemporary Ukraine. In Serov’s original, the young girl sits in...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Lilacs in Vase, 1970
By Boris Mikhailovich Lavrenko
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery (2015); Private Collection, Woodland Hills, California; The Artist's Family, St. Petersburg, Russia Signed "Lavrenko" in Russian on lower right. Description Lilacs in Vase was created by the renowned Russian Soviet Realist, Boris Mikhailovich Lavrenko, one of the leading representatives of the Leningrad School of Painting. Lavrenko served as professor of the Repin Art Institute (Russian Academy of Arts), St. Petersburg, and in 1953 was made a member of the Leningrad Union of Artists. In 1976 he was awarded the title of "Meritorious Artist of the Russian Federation," and in 1994 he received the highest honor of "People's Artist of the Russian Federation" -- a recognition bestowed to artists who have made outstanding contributions to Russia's art and culture. In this humble vanitas the artist represents garden fresh flowers, a classic theme in Russian still life...
Canvas, Oil
Realistic Wildlife Landscape Painting of Wood Ducks Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Wood Ducks acrylic/panel 21 x w5 unframed, 31 x 36 framed signed LL Wood Ducks is an "AWARD WINNING" acrylic painting on panel by contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases a ...
Acrylic
$101Sale Price|25% Off
British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Different Posed Cows
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...
Chalk, Graphite
$11,668
"A coastal landscape with figures and ruins"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
"A Coastal Landscape with Figures and Ruins" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (Framed): 75 x 100 cm Dimensions (Canvas): 48 x 74 cm No signatured This striking 18th-century oil paint...
Canvas, Oil
$26,338Sale Price|20% Off
Portrait of a Girl with a Puppy - Scottish Edwardian art portrait oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This stunning Edwardian portrait oil painting is attributed to Scottish Kirkcudbright School artist William Stewart MacGeorge. Painted circa 1910, The painting shows the influences o...
Canvas, Oil
Poppies; Tejon Ranch, California
By Ray Roberts
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Ray Roberts" on lower right UNFRAMED: 18" x 24" FRAMED: 24.5" x 30.5" x 1" Artist Statement "...
Linen, Oil, Panel
$4,938Sale Price|20% Off
Brilliance-original modern Ocean-seascape oil painting-Contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. In the dynamic and compelling masterpiece "Brilliance" by Nikk...
Canvas, Oil
$4,063Sale Price|25% Off
The Dueling Partners 1850's French Oil, Chateau Staircase Interior Beautiful oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Duel by Alcide Joseph LORENTZ (French 1813-1891) signed and dated 1857 oil painting on canvas, framed framed size: 30 x 25 inches canvas: 25 x 20.5 inches condition: very good an...
Canvas, Oil
Basket Of Red Cherries Still-Life Oil Painting With Gilt Frame
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
This still life painting depicts a woven basket brimming with ripe cherries, delicately arranged on a tabletop against a subdued background. The cherries are rendered with a sheen, t...
Canvas, Oil
$8,779Sale Price|20% Off
Portrait of a Bride - British 1934 Romantic art female portrait oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This beautiful British 1930's portrait oil painting is by noted artist Frank Owen Salisbury or Frank O'Salisbury as he is also known. Painted in 1934, the composition is a half lengt...
Oil
"Lake"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Oleksandr Khrapachov. “Lake,” 2020 Canvas, oil. 51×76 cm --- Oleksandr Khrapachov invites us into the mysterious world of nature, where time seems to stand still and space is fill...
Canvas, Oil
Shiney Red Pomegranate, Original Painting, Still Life, Fruit Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Shiney Red Pomegranate is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her series featuring life size realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque still life painting. T...
Canvas, Oil
That's Saying Something, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A realistic animal painting depicts three great blue herons. Two of the herons are scanning their surroundings, seemingly in search of good fortune, trouble, or...
Acrylic
"On the Front Steps" - Realist Female Portrait Painting on Linen Panel
By Matt Talbert
Located in Denver, CO
Artist bio/statement: Matt Talbert is a contemporary oil painter living in Southern California. Both a graduate from the Orange County School of the Arts and the Laguna College of A...
Linen, Oil, Panel
“Manchester Terrier, 1854” George Armfield Dog Portrait in Landscape Oil 19th C.
Located in Yardley, PA
A fantastic example of George Armfield’s renowned portraits of dogs. This work depicts a Manchester Terrier excitedly standing outside a rabbit hole on the edge of a forest. The ter...
Canvas, Oil
$16,000
"Billy Burns" 1939 by Ludvik Vacatko, Equestrian Portrait Boy Chestnut Horse
Located in Yardley, PA
About this work: “Billy Bruins” (1939) by Ludvík Vacátko (1873-1956). A grand, wonderfully theatrical equestrian portrait by the renowned horse painter, Ludvik Vacatko. This work sh...
Canvas, Oil
Woods, Oil Painting
By Shuxing Fan
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Golden light from the setting sun glows softly on one side of the woods, while the foreground rests in cool shadow. Autumn colors peek through the trees. A wind...
Oil
European painter - 19th-20th century stormy sea with sailing ship painting
Located in Varmo, IT
European painter (19th–20th century) - Seascape with a sailing ship in a storm. 45 x 67 cm (unframed) - 51 x 73 cm (framed). Oil on panel, in a gilded wooden frame. Signed indisti...
Oil, Panel
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Impressionistic Seascape Otis Swett Oil Painting Ogonquit ME Salmagundi Label
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
William Otis Swett (American 1859-1938) oil on canvas board seascape, titled Turning of the Tide, signed lower right, Salmagundi Club exhibition label verso, board - 9" x 12", fram...
Oil
$6,721
Sunflowers and Stories - original surreal realism seascape floral oil painting
By Luis Fuentes
Located in London, Chelsea
In "Sunflowers and Stories by the Sea," Luis Fuentes captures a serene moment by the coast, inviting viewers to experience the tranquil beauty of the seaside. This original floral an...
Canvas, Oil
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
New York City Painting Michael Budden Evening On Broadway St James & Sardis
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Evening On Broadway, St. James & Sardi's Image is 10 x 8 unframed, 15.5 x 13.5 framed. An acrylic painting on canvas panel by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that...
Acrylic
$2,005Sale Price|25% Off
River Landscape Scene with Horses in the English Countryside by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
River Landscape Scene with Horses in the English Countryside by British Contemporary Artist, David Morgan (Born 1964). Art measures 24 x 16 inches Frame measures 30 x 20 inches Sig...
Canvas, Oil
Whopper
Located in Zofingen, AG
Original oil painting on canvas, still life painting made under natural light. This artwork is painted using high-quality fine linen canvas. Signed on the front and back of artwork. ...
Canvas, Oil
"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 &...
Canvas, Oil
Contact problem.Welcome to NATO, canvas/oil, 80x150 cm, 1976
Located in Riga, LV
Contact problem.Welcome to NATO, canvas/oil, 80x150 cm, 1976
Canvas, Oil
Springtime Harmony. 2024. Acrylic on canvas. 30x24 cm. Signed
Located in Riga, LV
”Springtime Harmony” This painting, dedicated to the old Flemish masters, captures the timeless beauty of a spring bouquet featuring pristine white daffodils and gentle blue forget-...
Canvas, Acrylic
Winter Moonlight Nocturne Snow Scene Landscape Oil Painting by Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Enchanted Evening oil/canvas 16 x 20 unframed, 22.5 x 26.5 framed signed LL Enchanted Evening is an oil painting on canvas by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that sh...
Oil
Signed Antique American 19th Century Realist Still Life Nicely Framed Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring 21 by 25 inches overall and 14.5 by 18.5 painting alone.
Canvas, Oil
Absolutely Nothing Painting, Surreal Desert Scene, Signed, 70x95 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
This surreal artwork captures a stark desert crossroads under a vivid blue sky, where a vintage white convertible takes center stage. Two figures add intrigue: one stands beside the ...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$52,677Sale Price|20% Off
Portrait of Mrs William Tisdall Elsie Gardiner - British Edwardian oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This superb large British Edwardian exhibited portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson. It was painted in 1909 and exhibite...
Oil
Original Oil Painting Floral Still Life Vase Fruit Signed Impressionist Style
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This original oil painting on canvas presents a richly composed floral still life, featuring a softly rendered ceramic vase alongside a vibrant arrangement of blossoms and fruit. The...
Oil
$108Sale Price|20% Off
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Bull Resting On The Ground
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...
Chalk, Graphite
"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...
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
"In love"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Self-portrait of the artist, painted at the moment of falling in love. The painting radiates femininity, love, warmth.
Canvas, Oil
"Landscape with wooden bridge and figures"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Attributed to Giuseppe Zola (1672-1743) – "Landscape with Wooden Bridge and Figures" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (Flat): 190 x 301 cm Description: This monumental 18th-century ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,029
Portrait of Young Woman, Realist Oil on Cardboard, Mid-20th Century
Located in Genève, GE
Work on cardboard signed Dimension with frame :44 x 52 x 3 cm This captivating work features an oil portrait of a woman, embodying a classic and timeless style. The subtly textured ...
Oil
Vintage Impressionist Landscape Oil Painting Floral Meadow Countryside Scene
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This charming vintage oil painting depicts a peaceful countryside landscape filled with vibrant wildflowers, rolling hills, and scattered cottages nestled among lush trees. The artis...
Oil
Oriental Figure Study in Red and White
Located in Stockholm, SE
Attributed to John Arsenius (1818–1903) Sweden Oriental Figure monogrammed lower left JA oil on panel unframed 26.5 × 15.5 cm (10.4 × 6.1 in) framed 34 × 23 cm (13.4 × 9.1 in) Pro...
Oil, Wood Panel
$1,400
Brass Coffee Grinder and Bowl, Photorealist Oil Painting by Andras Gombar
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Andras Gombar, French (1946 - ) Title: Still Life 1 Year: circa 1965 Medium: Oil on Canvas mounted to Wood, signed Size: 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 60.96 cm)
Canvas, Wood, Oil
$4,800Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Cat Painting "Cat with Butterfly in a Meadow" Arthur Heyer 1872-1931
By Arthur Heyer
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Cat Painting "Cat with Butterfly in a Meadow" Arthur Heyer 1872-1931 Oil on canvas Signed lower right "Heyer A." 25 1/2 x 21 (29 1/4 x 3...
Canvas, Oil
$7,462Sale Price|20% Off
Portrait of an Edwardian Lady - British American art portrait oil painting
By John Singer Sargent
Located in Hagley, England
This lovely British Edwardian portrait oil painting is attributed to circle of John Singer Sargent. Sargent was born in America then trained in Paris before coming to London. Painted...
Oil
Chinese Contemporary Art by Su Yu - 250USdollar
By Su Yu
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas Su Yu is a Chinese artist born in 1987 who lives and works in Beijing. He was an old student of prestigious art teachers as Shi Liang & Chen Danqing at Oil Paintin...
Canvas, Oil
Berries in a golden bowl
Located in Zofingen, AG
The scene is set with a quiet reverence—a simple golden bowl, brimming with the last treasures of the season. These are not just fruits; they are memories of sunlight, gathered and p...
Canvas, Oil
"An Enchanted Star for Katie" - Whimsical Animal Portrait, Oil on Panel
Located in Denver, CO
"There is a legend known among the wee ones of the forest, that near the southeast of the center of the forest, when a new moon sets with the sun, tiny wishing stars fall to the eart...
Oil, Paper
A hyperrealist canvas by Heinz Schönhammer transforms a café classic into an unforgettable still life.
With a solo show at the Denver Art Museum and a commission from the Met, the Cree Canadian painter has become an international sensation.