Realist Figurative Photography
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
"Susan - Waiting '78" - Figurative Black & White Photograph, 4/25
By Graham Nash
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderfully evocative archival digital photograph, limited edition giclee by Graham Nash (American, b. 1942) of his then pregnant wife Susan titled "Susan Waiting '78". #4/25. Titled, signed and dated '89. Stamp and signed on verso. Condition: Excellent; some bleed through of stamp ink below left bottom margin from stamp on verso. Unframed. Image size: 15.50"H x 22.50"W. Size including border: 22.25"H x 24.50"W.
While best known as a founding member of the rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash, and (sometimes) Young, Nash also developed a parallel career as a photographer, collector, and pioneer of digital imaging. Nash's photographs include revealing portraits of family and friends, images of life on the road, still lifes and landscapes, street photographs, bad credit people, and a unique series of self-portraits which often shows him reflected in windows and mirrors. His photography establishes Nash as a masterful visual artist with a keen eye for moments and scenes not immediately available to the common eye.
In 2006, fifty years of Graham Nash's photographic images were shown in his first solo museum exhibition, Eye to Eye: Photographs by Graham Nash, at San Diego's Museum of Photographic Arts. MoPA Director Arthur Ollman...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Rag Paper
Slim Aarons 'Verbier Skier'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons
Verbier Skier
1964
C print
Estate edition of 150
A blonde skier on the slopes at Verbier, February 1964.
Estate stamped and hand numbered...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Sir Run Run Shaw, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1970s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features philanthropist and entertainment mogul Sir Run Run Shaw surrounded by the stars of Hong Ko...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Sir Run Run Shaw, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1970s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features philanthropist and entertainment mogul Sir Run Run Shaw surrounded by the stars of Hong Ko...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Annevoie (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
1980, Jean and Christiane de Montpellier d'Annevoie float across the moat of their home, Annevoie, Belgium.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authe...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
SS Queen Of Bermuda, Bermuda, Estate Edition, Maritime Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1950s maritime photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the British ocean liner 'SS Queen of Bermuda' in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda.
This is an es...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Faithful Couple (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Caption:August 1968: Singer Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones stand in front of a gilt framed portrait in Castletown Mansion, Eire.
Estate stamped and hand nu...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Gordon C. MacKenzie, New Hampshire, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the race driver Gordon C. MacKenzie in Franconia, New Hampshire.
This is an estate stampe...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Gordon C. MacKenzie, New Hampshire, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the race driver Gordon C. MacKenzie in Franconia, New Hampshire.
This is an estate stamped...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Boating In Antigua
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
American actor Hugh O'Brian (left) hoists the sail on a dinghy, Antigua, West Indies, 1961.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Acrylic Polymer, Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Hang Gliding'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Hang gliding in Kitzbuhel, Austria,1980.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Slim Aarons ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Seaside Picnic (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Rudulph Ellis Carter holds a picnic in Newport, August 1987.
The group includes David Lindh, Frank Gilligan, Kenneth Lindh, Diana Prince, Foxy Carter, Lisette Prince de Ramel, Yusha...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Naumburg Bandshell, New York City, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1940s urban photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features couples dance to a live band performing at the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, New York Cit...
Category
1940s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Naumburg Bandshell, New York City, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1940s urban photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features couples dance to a live band performing at the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, New York Cit...
Category
1940s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Carmen Sevilla, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Spanish actress and singer Carmen Sevilla. (Photo by Slim Aarons/Getty Images)
Slim Aarons
Carmen Sevilla
Chromogenic Lambda print
1957, Printed Later
Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Com...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Swimming In The Bahamas, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brightly coloured swimmers in a pool in Nassau on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas, 1959.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
10 x 12 inches...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Time For A Guinness
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Caption: April 1959: Gloria Guinness enjoying a swim in her pool at Manalapan, Palm Beach, Florida.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity ...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Antonio Ruiz Soler, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A flamenco dancer raises his hat in front of a poster advertising the virtuoso dancer Antonio (Antonio Ruiz Soler) in the national premiere of 'Ballet ...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Antonio Ruiz Soler, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A flamenco dancer raises his hat in front of a poster advertising the virtuoso dancer Antonio (Antonio Ruiz Soler) in the national premiere of 'Ballet ...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Fan Mail', Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962), wearing a red negligee trimmed with black lace, sorts out her fan mail shortly after her film 'The Asphalt Jungle' had been released, Beverly Hills, 195...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Caped Skiers (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Led by skimaster Stein Eriksen, skiers 'sail' down a slope at Snowmass-at-Aspen, Colorado, circa 1967. The skiers are wearing thin capes which attach to their wrists and billow out l...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Catherine Wilke, Capri (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Catherine Wilke joins the topless sunbathers on the island of Capri, 1980.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate.
Slim A...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Hotel De Paris In Monaco (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The entrance to the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Monaco, June 1977.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Venice Gondolas', Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gondolas moored in Venice, 1957. In the background is the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, on San Giorgio Maggiore island.
Captured with the exquisite clarity and charm that epitomiz...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Venice Gondolas', Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gondolas moored in Venice, 1957. In the background is the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, on San Giorgio Maggiore island.
Captured with the exquisite clarity and charm that epitomiz...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Coconut Cocktail (Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Teddy Stauffer and a friend share a cocktail, from a coconut shell, Acapulco, Mexico, 1952.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Surfing Brothers, Newport, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Freddie and Howard Cushing surfing with friends at Bailey's Beach (the Spouting Rock Beach Association) in Newport. Their father introduced the sport to the club in the 1930's.
Slim...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Surfing Brothers, Newport, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Freddie and Howard Cushing surfing with friends at Bailey's Beach (the Spouting Rock Beach Association) in Newport. Their father introduced the sport to the club in the 1930's.
Slim...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Swimming In The Bahamas, Estate Edition, Nassau
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brightly coloured swimmers in a pool in Nassau on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas, 1959.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
10 x 12 inches...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Madame Jean Serpieri
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
December 1961—Madame Jean Serpieri sits in the ballroom of the Tour La Reine near Athens, wearing a gown which belonged to the wife of Otto, the f...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'CZ's House, Villa Artemis' Midcentury Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Mrs F C Winston Guest (1920 - 2003) (aka Cee Zee Guest) reclines on a garden chair in front of the Grecian temple pool on her ocean-front estate, Villa Artemis, Palm Beach, Florida. ...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
In Capri (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
1958: Robert Hornstein, the artist Novella Parigini and Prince Dado Ruspoli on Capri.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certific...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Coconut Cocktail (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Teddy Stauffer and a friend share a drink from a coconut shell, Acapulco, Mexico, 1952.
Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the est...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Fan Mail (Marilyn Monroe in Red), Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962), wearing a red negligee trimmed with black lace, sorts out her fan mail shortly after her film 'The Asphalt Jungle' had been released.
This exquisite p...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, Poolside Landscape with Acropolis, Athens Greece
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Slim Aarons’s Penthouse Pool captures a sunlit moment of casual glamour at the Canellopoulos penthouse pool in Athens, Greece. Taken in July 1961, the photograph shows a group of you...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Photo Purim Pestalozzi Str Synagogue Berlin Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph
Located in Surfside, FL
Edward Serotta
Purim in the Pestalozzi Strasse Synagogue Berlin.
silver gelatin print, matted, captioned by hand and hand signed and numbered. B/W photographs documenting Jewish li...
Category
1990s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Capote At Home, New York, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the author Truman Capote (1924 - 1984) relaxing with a book and a cigarette in his clutter...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Capote At Home, New York, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the author Truman Capote (1924 - 1984) relaxing with a book and a cigarette in his clutter...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Island Lookout
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
May 1968: Nattily dressed, W Clifford Klenk with his telescope and his wife, Hope in their Hog island house.
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
20 x 20 inches
$2500
12 x 1...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Saint-Tropez Beach
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The beach at Saint-Tropez, on the French Riviera, August 1971.
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer shipping ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Ladies Of Lyford Cay
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Grace, Mrs Dauphinot, Marina Posson and Baroness Meriel de Posson in Lyford Cay, New Providence Island, April 1974.
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Ladies Of Lyford Cay
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Grace, Mrs Dauphinot, Marina Posson and Baroness Meriel de Posson in Lyford Cay, New Providence Island, April 1974.
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Cotton Bay
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Campbells' pool at Cotton Bay, on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, November 1982.
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
12 x 16 inches
$1800
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complim...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Cotton Bay
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Campbells' pool at Cotton Bay, on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, November 1982.
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
12 x 16 inches
$1800
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complim...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Cotton Bay
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Campbells' pool at Cotton Bay, on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, November 1982.
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
12 x 16 inches
$1800
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complim...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
The Bahamas
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A swimming pool, seen through the fronds of a palm tree, with two people swimming and a group of people sitting at tables at the poolside in the Bahamas, May 1967. Beyond the pool is...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
The Bahamas
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A swimming pool, seen through the fronds of a palm tree, with two people swimming and a group of people sitting at tables at the poolside in the Bahamas, May 1967. Beyond the pool is...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Harbour Island
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harbour Island in the Bahamas, 1970.
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide....
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Harbour Island
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harbour Island in the Bahamas, 1970.
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide....
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
St Tropez Garden
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant woman poses in a garden in St Tropez, August 1977.
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer shipping t...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
St Tropez Garden
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant woman poses in a garden in St Tropez, August 1977.
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer shipping t...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
St Tropez Garden
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant woman poses in a garden in St Tropez, August 1977.
20 x 30 inches
$3000
20 x 24 inches
$2500
16 x 20 inches
$2150
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer shipping t...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Campbell Falls Picnic
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A family enjoying a picnic on the bank of the Whiting River near Campbell Falls, Massachusetts, USA, 1959.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
Complime...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Campbell Falls Picnic
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A family enjoying a picnic on the bank of the Whiting River near Campbell Falls, Massachusetts, USA, 1959.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
Complime...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Eleuthera Pool Party
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1970, Eleuthera Pool Party, Bahamas.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Treasure Cay
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Treasure Cay resort on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas, March 1986.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer sh...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Bahamanian Hotel
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A hotel on the coast at Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas, March 1973.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, world...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Bahamanian Hotel
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A hotel on the coast at Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas, March 1973.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, world...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Realist figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Realist figurative photography 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 photography 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, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Slim Aarons, Ron Tarver, Graham Nash, and Milton Rogovin. Frequently made by artists working with Digital Print, and Lambda Print 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 photography, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $105 and tops out at $75,000, while the average work sells for $3,000.