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Realist Paintings

7,045 Results
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
"Turnip"
"Turnip"

Giacomo Ceruti"Turnip"

$40,000Sale Price|20% Off

"Turnip"

By Giacomo Ceruti

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Giacomo Ceruti, known as Il Pitocchetto (1698-1767) – “Turnip” Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 204 x 124 cm (unframed) Provenance: Private collection This remarkable painting, “T...

Category

18th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Looking through the Arches, Mission at San Juan Capistrano, California
Looking through the Arches, Mission at San Juan Capistrano, California

Looking through the Arches, Mission at San Juan Capistrano, California

By Elizabeth Borglum

Located in Grand Rapids, MI

Elizabeth Lisa Putnam Jaynes Borglum (American, 1848-1922) Signed: Elisabeth Jaynes Borglum (lower, left) " Looking through the Arches, Mission at San Juan Capistrano ", circa 1895...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Homestead
Homestead

Homestead

By Chuck Kovacic

Located in Pasadena, CA

Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist UNFRAMED:16" x 20" FRAMED:27" x 31" x 2.5" Artist Statement "Completed in the studio from plein air notes made in Tehachapi, CA. A...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Panel

Running Waters; Taos, New Mexico
Running Waters; Taos, New Mexico

Running Waters; Taos, New Mexico

By Tim Solliday

Located in Pasadena, CA

Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "T. Solliday" on lower right Description “Running Waters” is a plein air painting done in Taos, New Mexico. Solliday depicts the Rio Peublo de Taos, a tributary of the Rio Grande, as flowing abundantly after the winter thaw...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Landscape
Landscape

Landscape

By Richard Peterson

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork "Landscape" 1991 is an oil on board by noted artist Richard Peterson, born 1947. It is signed and dated at the lower right corner by the artist. The board size is 24 x 3...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

" Gypsy Girl " 19th Century antique realistic portrait oil painting on panel
" Gypsy Girl " 19th Century antique realistic portrait oil painting on panel

" Gypsy Girl " 19th Century antique realistic portrait oil painting on panel

Located in Jacksonville, FL

Jan Frederik Pieter Portielje (1829-1908) was a Dutch painter known for his remarkable attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with precision and realism. Born in Amsterdam, Portielje displayed an early talent for art and pursued his passion through formal training at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. Portielje’s expertise lay in portraiture, particularly in capturing the intricacies of human expression and the beauty of traditional attire. His artwork often depicted scenes from everyday life, showcasing individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. One notable painting that exemplifies his skill is “Gypsy Girl.” In “Gypsy Girl,” Portielje presents a captivating portrait that possesses an astonishing level of realism. The painting depicts a young Romani girl adorned with vibrant jewelry and dressed in traditional clothing. Portielje’s meticulous brushwork and attention to detail make the portrait appear as if it were a photograph captured by a modern camera. The rich colors of the girl’s attire, combined with the intricate jewelry, create a visual feast for the viewer. Portielje’s ability to convey texture and fabric is remarkable, as he captures the folds and drapes of the girl’s clothing...

Category

19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Light House Boca Grande FL Range Light Oil Painting Seascape by Michael Budden
Light House Boca Grande FL Range Light Oil Painting Seascape by Michael Budden

Light House Boca Grande FL Range Light Oil Painting Seascape by Michael Budden

By Michael Budden

Located in Chesterfield, NJ

Range Light House OIl/panel 24 x 28 framed as pictured Each panel signed separartely Here is a triptych oil painting on canvas panel by award winning contemporary artist Michael Bud...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Marine Melody
Marine Melody

Marine Melody

By Anzhelika Muzychenko

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 Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

"Tears of dawn"
"Tears of dawn"

"Tears of dawn"

By Madalena Zampassi

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A moment of silence, when the night falls asleep and the morning has not yet arrived. White poppies, like ghostly lights, glow in the darkness, washed by the cool tears of dawn. A pa...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Glory to Ukraine!"
"Glory to Ukraine!"

"Glory to Ukraine!"

By Iryna Iskra

Located in Edinburgh, GB

The painting is written in honor and memory of the hero of Ukraine, Oleksandr Mitsievsky. He was shot by soldiers of the Russian army after they took him prisoner. His last words wer...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“Moonrise (Lever de Lune)”
“Moonrise (Lever de Lune)”

“Moonrise (Lever de Lune)”

Located in Southampton, NY

Original oil on canvas painting of a moon rising light over a seascape on a rocky coast. Beautiful, soft palette by the French artist, Roger de la Corbiere. Signed by the artist low...

Category

1950s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still Life with Insects. 2025. Oil on canvas. 35x27 cm. Signed
Still Life with Insects. 2025. Oil on canvas. 35x27 cm. Signed

Still Life with Insects. 2025. Oil on canvas. 35x27 cm. Signed

Located in Riga, LV

CV Ādams Tills ​(born 1981) ​Artistic Education ​2006–2008: Studies at the Art Academy of Latvia, Department of Figural Painting, Master’s Degree. ​2002–2006: Studies at the Ar...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow Side Profile Portrait On The Grass
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow Side Profile Portrait On The Grass

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow Side Profile Portrait On The Grass

By John Rabone Harvey

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 Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Judaica Market Scene, Shuk, European Hasidic Rabbi Oil Painting
Judaica Market Scene, Shuk, European Hasidic Rabbi Oil Painting

Judaica Market Scene, Shuk, European Hasidic Rabbi Oil Painting

Located in Surfside, FL

framed sight size 10 x 13.5 inches painting, framed to 15 x 19. Impressionistic Realistic portrait of an older rabbi visiting the marketplace. Children playing. Here the artist conveys a sense of quiet grandeur through the eyes of his subject and the way it's rendered. following a distinguished lineage of Jewish genre...

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Winter Sunlight in the Forest 20th Century Realist Oil Painting by German Artist
Winter Sunlight in the Forest 20th Century Realist Oil Painting by German Artist

Winter Sunlight in the Forest 20th Century Realist Oil Painting by German Artist

Located in Preston, GB

Winter Sunlight in the Forest 20th Century Realist Oil Painting by German Landscape Artist, Wolfgang Heinz (1930–2014). Art measures 32 x 28 inches Frame measures 39 x 34.5 inches ...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Banjo, Oil Painting
Banjo, Oil Painting

Banjo, Oil Painting

By Nikolay Rizhankov

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Street / Map, Oil Painting
Street / Map, Oil Painting

Street / Map, Oil Painting

By Nick Savides

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Set in Tribeca on a November afternoon, the painting employs a split-screen composition. On the right, Walker Street stretches into the distance as a figure ent...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Flyover nº II
Flyover nº II

Flyover nº II

By Juan Álvarez Cebrián

Located in CAMPO REAL, ES

"Elevated Passage No. II" captures the serenity of the Tablas de Daimiel, a UNESCO-protected wetland in Ciudad Real, Spain. The painting features a wooden bridge that stretches from ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

"Yayoi Kusama man"
"Yayoi Kusama man"

"Yayoi Kusama man"

By Kyrylo Bondarenko

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A series of paintings, academicism is dead. I take dry and boring academic drawings and transform them into vibrant contemporary art. By buying Ukrainian art from Ukrainian artists...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Pencil

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Michael Hunting

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Michael Hunting

By Mark Beard

Located in New York, NY

Oil on canvas Signed in red, u.r. 14 x 11 inches, canvas size 14.5 x 11.5 inches in distressed gold leaf frame This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “Bruc...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mother and Child
Mother and Child

Mother and Child

By Natalia Fabia

Located in Pasadena, CA

Provenance Acquired by the artist directly from the artist Signed "N. Fabia" on lower left Artist Statement “My painting, Mother and Child, is a depiction of my daughter and I, inspired by whimsical themes we both enjoy. Studying Pre-Raphaelite paintings, Mother and Child evokes rich Roman Catholic iconography. Poland has this imagery everywhere, as it is home to Our Lady of Czensztochowa. As I am Polish, I draw heavy affection for this imagery. While creating this work I kept this Agatha Christie quote in mind: ‘A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world, it knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.’ In this painting I’ve chosen to portray us outdoors in a dreamlike setting, using vivid colors, lighting and environment. I’ve applied gold and pearlescent paint in the foundation layers which peek through at times. In choosing a pose—her hands touching my face, I hope the viewer sees the love and bond that we share.” —Natalia Fabia...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

HUGH OIL PAINTING Tintern Abbey Antique 19th Century
HUGH OIL PAINTING Tintern Abbey Antique 19th Century

HUGH OIL PAINTING Tintern Abbey Antique 19th Century

Located in Ferndown, GB

HUGH OIL PAINTING Antique 19th Century 19th Century Gold Frame Description Late 19th century Piece “Good Condition on canvas" Good condition Piece , cleaned & re-vanished / rel...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

" la conchiglia-Bagnante " Mosaico cm. 44 x 26 1945
" la conchiglia-Bagnante " Mosaico cm. 44 x 26 1945

" la conchiglia-Bagnante " Mosaico cm. 44 x 26 1945

By Edita Broglio

Located in Torino, IT

Edita Broglio 1886-1977 Mosaico , esposto in numerose mostre 1991- Palazzo Ricci Macerata 1994- Palazzo dei Diamanti Ferrara 1994 Galleria Arco Farnese -Roma Pubblicato sul catalog...

Category

1940s Realist Paintings

Materials

Mosaic

Textured Signed Oil Painting Still Life, Folk Art Pottery Corn Adobe Scene Art
Textured Signed Oil Painting Still Life, Folk Art Pottery Corn Adobe Scene Art

Textured Signed Oil Painting Still Life, Folk Art Pottery Corn Adobe Scene Art

Located in Palm Coast, FL

This vibrant textured oil on canvas painting presents a richly detailed still life inspired by Southwestern and folk art traditions. Featuring hand-painted pottery, ears of corn, flo...

Category

1990s Realist Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Oil

That's the 1, Oil Painting
That's the 1, Oil Painting

That's the 1, Oil Painting

By Jesse Aldana

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A bridge blushes in full morning sun like the timeless brink at the edge of Faerie. Two metal posts cast long shadows across the pavement. Blue water stretches ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Chaumière aux arbres

Chaumière aux arbres

By Antoine Vollon

Located in Atlanta, GA

French painter and etcher. Having worked for a maker of enamelled metalwork and an engraver, Vollon attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Lyon (1850-52), where he won awards in printmaking. He subsequently copied 18th-century paintings for industrial design. He had begun to concentrate on his own work by 1858 and joined a group of Romantic artists based in Lyon, including Francis Verney (1833-1896), Fleury Chenu (1833-1875), Joseph Ravier (1832-1878) and Joseph and Jean Antoine Bail (1830-1918). In 1859 Vollon moved to Paris, where he met the realist painters François Bonvin...

Category

19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Appaloosa Horse Oil Painting Figurative Artwork by Russian painter 40x60
Appaloosa Horse Oil Painting Figurative Artwork by Russian painter 40x60

Appaloosa Horse Oil Painting Figurative Artwork by Russian painter 40x60

By Simon Kozhin

Located in Zofingen, AG

PLEASE NOTE: Shipping WITHOUT frame with DHL Service. In this painting, I lovingly captured the unique spirit of the horse, its dappled coat a symbol of individuality. The rich oils blend fine art with touches of impressionism and realism, portraying strength and tranquility. Its presence will infuse your space with a sense of natural elegance and the gentle yet wild beauty of the untamed. One of the horse breeds of the American Indians, with a fancy color and hardy disposition. Exhibition: 2004 "We are all a bit of a horse" exhibition in the antique gallery...

Category

Early 2000s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Milk Glass Vases

Milk Glass Vases

By Bennett Vadnais

Located in Fairfield, CT

Much of Bennett Vadnais’ subject matter comes from his surroundings in Manhattan and Brooklyn. With a strong background in plein air landscape painting, Vadnais finds an interesting ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Egg Tempera, Panel

First Light Oil Painting of Mother and Baby, Framed, Signed
First Light Oil Painting of Mother and Baby, Framed, Signed

First Light Oil Painting of Mother and Baby, Framed, Signed

By Elin Sian Blake

Located in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset

Elin Siân Blake. Welsh ( b.1981). First Light. Oil On Canvas. Signed Lower Left. Image size 23.4 inches x 17.3 inches ( 59.5cm x 44cm ). Frame size 28.5 inches x 22.4 inches ( 72.5cm x 57cm ). Available for sale; this original painting is by the contemporary Welsh artist Elin Sian Blake. The painting is presented and supplied in a sympathetic frame (which is shown in these photographs) and is supplied ready to hang and display. The painting is signed lower left. Elin Siân Blake is a contemporary Brecon-based artist, originally from the South Wales valleys, whose work delves deeply into the rich tapestry of Welsh heritage. Through various mediums, she creates poignant reflections of societal and cultural issues that have shaped the Welsh identity. Born in 1981, Elin Siân Blake began producing commissioned artwork from an early age, focussing on the traditional Welsh ponies and landscapes of her childhood. She was particularly inspired by the agricultural and equestrian events she attended. As a teenager she spent all her spare money on art supplies. Blake graduated from the University of Glamorgan in 2002 with a degree in graphic design and illustration, but quickly realised that she wanted to create conventional paintings, rather than producing digital images. She then spent several years living on the road in vintage vehicles, painting the scenes and characters she encountered on her travels. Blake taught herself oil painting using library books, originally producing very detailed photo-realistic images. Her artistic style developed considerably over the years, becoming more expressive. Blake’s main emphasis is always her love of images from the Welsh countryside and industry. As she explores the heritage of the Welsh valleys, she paints a social commentary on everyday Welsh working life. Her work captures the essence of Welsh tradition whilst simultaneously challenging societal norms. Bold and evocative, Blake's art invites the viewer to take a critical look at the complexities and nuances of Welsh heritage. By melding her artistic vision with a profound cultural understanding, she presents a thought-provoking examination of the past, present, and future of Wales. © Big Sky Fine Art This is a stunning and very tender image of a mother and baby, sitting by a window in the first light of a new day. It is all the more intimate because it is in fact a self-portrait of the artist shortly after the birth of her own daughter. The baby is wrapped in a soft cream blanket and is being held to her mother’s breast, feeding or sleeping after feeding. The mother, dazzingly beautiful, is captured in the dappled light of the new dawn. The background is sparse, making the image almost timeless. The young woman is sitting on a modest wooden chair and on the wall behind her is a hand-carved traditional Welsh love spoon...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Two Worlds - British Edwardian figurative interior oil painting religious art
Two Worlds - British Edwardian figurative interior oil painting religious art

Two Worlds - British Edwardian figurative interior oil painting religious art

By Arthur Croft Mitchell

Located in Hagley, England

This intriguing British Edwardian figurative interior oil painting is by noted artist Arthur Croft Mitchell. It is entitled Two Worlds verso and dated as c1910. The composition of th...

Category

1910s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Realist paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist 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 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, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Michael Budden, Su Yu, Olga Antonova, and Mark Hunter. 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 0.5 inches across are also available.