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Realist Paintings

7,036 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
Eternal Horizon - original contemporary ocean artwork - seascape oil painting
Eternal Horizon - original contemporary ocean artwork - seascape oil painting

Eternal Horizon - original contemporary ocean artwork - seascape oil painting

Located in London, Chelsea

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Rare 19th Century Russian Oil Portrait Bearded Man with Staff Signed Gilt Frame
Rare 19th Century Russian Oil Portrait Bearded Man with Staff Signed Gilt Frame

Rare 19th Century Russian Oil Portrait Bearded Man with Staff Signed Gilt Frame

Located in Stockholm, SE

RARE museum-quality example of a 19th‑century Russian plein‑air oil study on canvas, executed with swift, confident brushstrokes by the skilled hand of a masterful artist. The tall f...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil, Cardboard

Study of a Basset Hound by Léon Espinasse (French 19th/20th)
Study of a Basset Hound by Léon Espinasse (French 19th/20th)

Study of a Basset Hound by Léon Espinasse (French 19th/20th)

Located in SANTA FE, NM

"Portrait of a Basset Hound" Léon Espinasse (French, c. 1870 to 20th century) Watercolor on paper Signed lower left 12 x 9 3/8 (23 ¾ x 21 frame) inches A stunning exercise in comple...

Category

Early 1900s Realist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

Dog Portraits: "The Musicians" Charles Van den Eycken ((1859 - 1923)
Dog Portraits: "The Musicians" Charles Van den Eycken ((1859 - 1923)

Dog Portraits: "The Musicians" Charles Van den Eycken ((1859 - 1923)

By Charles H. Van den Eycken

Located in SANTA FE, NM

"The Musicians" Charles H. Van den Eycken (Belgium, 1859 - 1923) Oil on wood panel with highly ornate original wood, stucco and gilt frame. Signed upper right and dated "1893.' 10 1...

Category

1890s Realist Paintings

Materials

Mahogany, Oil, Wood Panel

"Abundance and Prosperity"
"Abundance and Prosperity"

"Abundance and Prosperity"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Allegorical Oil Painting – Abundance and Prosperity (18th Century European School) Medium: Oil on canvas Century: 18th century Dimensions: Framed: 149 x 193 cm Flat: 132 x 178 cm ...

Category

19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Garlic II - realistic painting
Garlic II - realistic painting

Garlic II - realistic painting

By Roni Yoffe

Located in New York, NY

This hyperrealistic painting by Roni Yoffe is from her latest body of works. It is oil on wood and comes not framed, but framing options are available. "My paintings in recent years ...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil

A house in the country, probably near Morristown NJ
A house in the country, probably near Morristown NJ

A house in the country, probably near Morristown NJ

By Frank Waller

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Frank Waller (American, 1842-1923) House in the Country Oil on canvas, 10 1/2 x 20 1/4 inches FRAMED: 16 x 26 inches (approx.) Signed and dated at lower left: "Frank Waller Study 19...

Category

1910s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Immersed in Darkness, Oil Painting
Immersed in Darkness, Oil Painting

Immersed in Darkness, Oil Painting

By Jose Luis Bermudez

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil

"The Winding Path" Oil Painting
"The Winding Path" Oil Painting

"The Winding Path" Oil Painting

By Rob Alexander

Located in Denver, CO

Rob Alexander's "The Winding Path" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a dirt foot path snaking its way through the green foothills with large fluffy clouds in the bac...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Adoration of the Magi"
"Adoration of the Magi"

"Adoration of the Magi"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Attributed to Frans Francken II (1581-1642) – "Adoration of the Magi" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 136 x 162 cm (unframed), 141 x 166 cm (framed) Provenance: Private collectio...

Category

17th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Paris Rainy Cafe" by Christopher Clark, Original Oil Painting, French Cityscape
"Paris Rainy Cafe" by Christopher Clark, Original Oil Painting, French Cityscape

"Paris Rainy Cafe" by Christopher Clark, Original Oil Painting, French Cityscape

By Christopher Clark

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

19th Century British Romantic Marine Oil Painting Sailing Ship Arrival Signed
19th Century British Romantic Marine Oil Painting Sailing Ship Arrival Signed

19th Century British Romantic Marine Oil Painting Sailing Ship Arrival Signed

Located in Stockholm, SE

This captivating oil painting on canvas, executed in 1882 by an unidentified but presumably British master, represents a magnificent example of a marine landscape from the era of Eur...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

"Le Petit Déjeuner" Oil Painting, Realist Still Life, Milk, Bread & Jam, framed
"Le Petit Déjeuner" Oil Painting, Realist Still Life, Milk, Bread & Jam, framed

"Le Petit Déjeuner" Oil Painting, Realist Still Life, Milk, Bread & Jam, framed

By Sarah Lamb

Located in Sag Harbor, NY

"Le Petit Déjeuner" is an original oil painting by Sarah Lamb. It depicts a variety of bread along with jam, butter, and milk on a wooden table. Sourdough, Challah, Baguette, etc. Bonne Maman...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Metsälampi (Forest Pond), 1942
Metsälampi (Forest Pond), 1942

Metsälampi (Forest Pond), 1942

Located in Stockholm, SE

Metsälampi (Forest Pond) is a 1942 oil painting on panel by the Finnish artist Ragnar Ungern, depicting a forest pond with overhanging trees reflected in its still waters. Created in...

Category

1940s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Still life with yellow milk jug and pears
Still life with yellow milk jug and pears

Still life with yellow milk jug and pears

By Irina Trushkova

Located in Zofingen, AG

I tried to find the color harmony of red-green pears and bright yellow milk jug. The shape of the jug echoes the shape of pears and the drapery, giving a unified movement and dynam...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Lacquer, Oil

19th-century Antique Genovese Sailor portrait painting
19th-century Antique Genovese Sailor portrait painting

19th-century Antique Genovese Sailor portrait painting

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Portrait of a Genovese Sailor, ca. 1890. Watercolor on cardboard measuring 4 x 5.5 inches; 9 x 11 inches framed.

Category

1890s Realist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Moonlit Village, Oil Painting
Moonlit Village, Oil Painting

Moonlit Village, Oil Painting

By David Qiyi Liu

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
This original oil painting depicts a tranquil and distinctive ancient Chinese village under the moonlight. The still water beneath the cloudy night sky reflects...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Catch Me if You Can, Original Painting
Catch Me if You Can, Original Painting

Catch Me if You Can, Original Painting

By Nava Lundy

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A portrait of a woman glowing under the sun captures her quiet confidence. With expressive brushwork and saturated color, the figure feels both glamorous and el...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Breath of the Sea, Oil Painting
Breath of the Sea, Oil Painting

Breath of the Sea, Oil Painting

By Tiffany Blaise

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The artwork captures the serenity of the ocean. Painted with oil paint and cold wax, the waves carry a slightly raised texture, adding to the realistic qualit...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

A Young Woman With Her Dog by Victor Ravet
A Young Woman With Her Dog by Victor Ravet

A Young Woman With Her Dog by Victor Ravet

Located in Stockholm, SE

In this exquisite painting by Victor Ravet, we are transported to an elegant interior setting reminiscent of the grandeur of high-class homes. The focal point is a woman adorned in a shimmering pink gown, radiating grace and sophistication. Bathed in gentle light, her dress catches the glimmer, accentuating her beauty. She holds a treat for a dog in her hand, enticing the furry companion who stands on its hind legs in eager anticipation. The canine's eyes fixated on the delicious morsel, capturing a moment of playful interaction between the woman and her loyal companion. The scene takes on a narrative quality as the young woman's other hand delicately lifts a curtain, hinting at another room beyond. This subtle gesture adds depth to the composition, suggesting a world of hidden secrets and intriguing possibilities within the opulent surroundings. Victor Ravet took inspiration from the Dutch Golden Age painters of the 17th century, such as Vermeer, Jacob Ochtervelt, and Gerrit Dou. This homage to their style and subject matter pays tribute to the timeless allure of domestic scenes, capturing a slice of life in a bygone era. With meticulous attention to detail, Ravet masterfully recreates the textures and fabrics, immersing the viewer in the sumptuousness of the period. The soft play...

Category

1870s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Portrait of a Detailed Cow's Face
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Portrait of a Detailed Cow's Face

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Portrait of a Detailed Cow's Face

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

The Rookery, Oil Painting
The Rookery, Oil Painting

The Rookery, Oil Painting

By Jesse Aldana

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A bright blue sky stretches over a scalloped coastline. Safe in the rookery below the cliffs, elephant seals bask in the sun, their voices blending with the c...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sleeping Man (portrait)
Sleeping Man (portrait)

Sleeping Man (portrait)

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Douglas Martenson (b.1960). Sleeping Man, 1982. Pencil on paper. Sheet measuring 11 x 15 inches. Framed measurement: 12 x 16 inches. Mahogany custom frame. Signed with artist i...

Category

1980s Realist Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Roosters and Hens in a Barn 19th century E. Binam
Roosters and Hens in a Barn 19th century E. Binam

Roosters and Hens in a Barn 19th century E. Binam

Located in SANTA FE, NM

Roosters and Hens in a Barn 19th century E. Binam (Belgian? 19th century) Signed lower left Oil on wood panel 8 1/4 x 5 /12 (10 1/4 x 13 1/4 frame) Though little is known about E. ...

Category

1890s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Reflection
Reflection

Reflection

By Irina Trushkova

Located in Zofingen, AG

I love the way the silver and porcelain objects are reflected and the subtle warm and cool color throughout. The medium used is oil on canvas, which allows to capture the vibrant col...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Picasso Muse, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Picasso Muse, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Picasso Muse, Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Gardani Art

Located in Yardley, PA

One-of-a-kind Realism Original Oil Painting on canvas by Gardani available for you. Hand signed by the Artist front and back, comes with official Gardani Certificate of Authenticity ...

Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

My Coloring Table (Still Life Interior Artist Studio).
My Coloring Table (Still Life Interior Artist Studio).

My Coloring Table (Still Life Interior Artist Studio).

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Piero Aversa (1928-1990) My Coloring Table, ca. 1965. Oil and sand on canvas, measuring 20 x 24 inches. Measuring 21 x 25 inches in brass frame. Signed lower right. Piero Avers...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

"Genre Scene"
"Genre Scene"

"Genre Scene"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Grand 17th-Century Style Genre Scene – Oil on Canvas A magnificent large-scale oil painting depicting an elegant gathering of noble figures in an architectural setting. This historic...

Category

17th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Modernist Framed Dog Portrait Signed Large Oil Painting
Antique American Modernist Framed Dog Portrait Signed Large Oil Painting

Antique American Modernist Framed Dog Portrait Signed Large Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Antique American dog portrait oil painting. Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Handsomely framed in a wood molding. Excellent condition, rea...

Category

1920s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Realist Portrait, Mid-Century Oil On Card, The Babushka. Oil.
Realist Portrait, Mid-Century Oil On Card, The Babushka. Oil.

Realist Portrait, Mid-Century Oil On Card, The Babushka. Oil.

Located in Cotignac, FR

Mid-Century realist oil on card of a peasant woman, dated 1963 to the reverse. Artist unknown. Presented in gilt and painted wood frame under glass. A charming, grounded painting of...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

European Cityscape #1
European Cityscape #1

European Cityscape #1

By Henry Ramirez

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork "European Cityscape" c. 1990 is a oil painting on hard board by Argentinian artist Henry D. Ramirez. It is signed at the lower left corner by the artist. The hard board ...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Red (Floral Still Life)
Red (Floral Still Life)

Red (Floral Still Life)

By Elizabeth Osborne

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Elizabeth Osborne (American/Philadelphia, b. 1936) "Red." Watercolor on paper. 1991/1992. Signed and dated l.r.. Sight: 9" x 12". Frame: 18 1/4" x 21 1/2". Provenance: Purchased from Jane Haslem Gallery in 1994. From the collection of Nancy Elizabeth Stanley. 1936, born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1959, BFA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1954-58, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania SOLO EXHIBITIONS Berry Campbell, New York, Elizabeth Osborne: A Retrospective, 2022. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Reflections: Painting Memory, 2017. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Watercolors: Five Decades, 2017. The Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, Delaware, Elizabeth Osborne: The 1960s, 2016. Luther W. Brady Art Gallery, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., Color Bloc: Paintings by Elizabeth Osborne, 2015. The James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Veils of Color: Juxtapositions and Recent Work by Elizabeth Osborne, 2015. (Traveled to The Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2016.) Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Luminous Gestures: New Works by Elizabeth Osborne, 2013. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Osborne: Watercolors, 2011. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Work, 2011. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Osborne: The Color of Light, 2009. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Figurative ‘60s, 2007. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Floating Landscapes: 1971-1979, 2006. J. Cacciola Galleries, New York, Works on Paper, 2006. The Print Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Recent Prints, 2005. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2004. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Osborne: 30 Years, Works on Paper, 2002. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vantage, 2000. Old Main Art Museum, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, 1998. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1997. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1994. Jane Haslem Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1994. North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1993-94. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1992. Arronson Gallery, The University of Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Watercolors, 1991. University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1990. Marian Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1988. Fischbach Gallery, New York, 1988. Fischbach Gallery, New York, 1984. Fischbach Gallery, New York, 1982. Fischbach Gallery, New York, 1980. Marian Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1978. Marian Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1976. Gimpel & Weitzenhoffer, Ltd., New York, 1977. Gimpel & Weitzenhoffer, Ltd., New York, 1974. Marian Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Landscapes, 1972. Makler Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1970. American Consulate, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1969. Peale Galleries, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1967. Perakis Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1967. Perakis Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1963. GROUP EXHIBITIONS Avery Galleries, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, The Women of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: Past to Present, 2024. Berry Campbell, New York, Perseverance, 2024. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, From Dusk Till Dawn, 2015. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, “Something Clicked in Philly”: David Lynch and His Contemporaries, 2014. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, It’s Not the Numbers, 2014. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Works on Paper, 2013. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Female Gaze: Women Artists Making Their World, 2013. Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art, Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Four Visions/Four Painters: Murray Dessner...

Category

1970s Realist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Rag Paper

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.