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
Great Harbour Cay
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A bather on the beach on Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas, March 1973.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
10 x 12 inches
$1350
Complimentary dealer shippin...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Commander Whitehead
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Commander Edward Whitehead (1908 - 1978), the public face of Schweppes, leans on a silver Rolls Royce at Lyford Cay, New Providence Island, April 1974. Commander Whitehead served in ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Nassau Beach Hotel
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The outdoor swimming pool at Nassau Beach Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas, 1959. The hotel was the first to built by Howard Johnson outside the United States.
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 i...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Abaco Holiday
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
College student Jan Woods relaxes in a hammock at the Abaco Inn on Elbow Cay, one of the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas, March 1986.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 ...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
French Leave Hotel
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests at the French Leave Hotel, owned by actor Craig Kelly, at Eleuthera in The Bahamas, 1960.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inche...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Abaco Holiday
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
College student Jan Woods relaxes in a hammock at the Abaco Inn on Elbow Cay, one of the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas, March 1986.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 ...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Abaco Holiday
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
College student Jan Woods relaxes in a hammock at the Abaco Inn on Elbow Cay, one of the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas, March 1986.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 ...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Peace And Plenty
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
People by the pool at Club Peace And Plenty, Georgetown on the island of Great Exuma, Bahamas, April 1967.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
10 x 12 ...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Peace And Plenty
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
People by the pool at Club Peace And Plenty, Georgetown on the island of Great Exuma, Bahamas, April 1967.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
10 x 12 ...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Peace And Plenty
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
People by the pool at Club Peace And Plenty, Georgetown on the island of Great Exuma, Bahamas, April 1967.
40 x 60 inches
$3950
30 x 40 inches
$3350
20 x 30 inches
$3000
10 x 12 ...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Abercorns On Windermere
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
James and Alexandra Hamilton, the 5th Duke and Duchess of Abercorn holiday on Windermere Island in the Bahamas, with their children Sophia and James, April 1980.
40 x 60 inches
$395...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Abercorns On Windermere
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
James and Alexandra Hamilton, the 5th Duke and Duchess of Abercorn holiday on Windermere Island in the Bahamas, with their children Sophia and James, April 1980.
40 x 60 inches
$395...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Abercorns On Windermere
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
James and Alexandra Hamilton, the 5th Duke and Duchess of Abercorn holiday on Windermere Island in the Bahamas, with their children Sophia and James, April 1980.
40 x 60 inches
$395...
Category
1980s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Black Pearl Trippers
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Henry B. Cabot Jr. (standing, centre) with his son Henry Bromfield Cabot III and their host Barclay (Buzzy) H Warburton III (in striped shirt) aboard the brigantine 'Black Pearl', ci...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Caleta Beach, Acapulco
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A high angle view of Caleta Beach (aka Morning Beach) in Acapulco, Mexico, January 1961. The Hotel Boca Chica can be seen to the right.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
2...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Hibiscus Flowers
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A woman surrounded by red hibiscus flowers in a swimming pool in Acapulco, Mexico, circa 1960.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Hibiscus Flowers
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A woman surrounded by red hibiscus flowers in a swimming pool in Acapulco, Mexico, circa 1960.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Acapulco Lunch
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A long afternoon lunch at Acapulco. Among the guest are (from left to right) film star Douglas Fairbanks Junior (1909 - 2000), couturiers Oscar de la Renta, and standing behind him E...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Villa Vera
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The bar at the Villa Vera Hotel Spa and Racquet Club in Acapulco, January 1968.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer thi...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Villa Vera
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The bar at the Villa Vera Hotel Spa and Racquet Club in Acapulco, January 1968.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer thi...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Arturo Pani's Villa
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The swimming pool at Arturo Pani's villa, Acapulco, Mexico, January 1968.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer this vibr...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Arturo Pani's Villa
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The swimming pool at Arturo Pani's villa, Acapulco, Mexico, January 1968.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer this vibr...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Arturo Pani's Villa
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The swimming pool at Arturo Pani's villa, Acapulco, Mexico, January 1968.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer this vibr...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
La Concha Beach Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A view of La Concha Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
La Concha Beach Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A view of La Concha Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Villa Nirvana
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests at the Villa Nirvana, owned by Oscar Obregon, in Las Brisas, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Villa Nirvana
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests at the Villa Nirvana, owned by Oscar Obregon, in Las Brisas, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
We Know Our Place
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Dalmatian dog lies at the feet of Mr and Mrs John M Seabrook as they pose with a pony and trap in the garden of their home, the Seabrook estate, New Jersey.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
We Know Our Place
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Dalmatian dog lies at the feet of Mr and Mrs John M Seabrook as they pose with a pony and trap in the garden of their home, the Seabrook estate, New Jersey.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
We Know Our Place
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Dalmatian dog lies at the feet of Mr and Mrs John M Seabrook as they pose with a pony and trap in the garden of their home, the Seabrook estate, New Jersey.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
...
Category
1950s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Tres Vidas, Acapulco
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests relax in the shade at the Tres Vidas private members club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Tres Vidas, Acapulco
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests relax in the shade at the Tres Vidas private members club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Leonard Dalsemer
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leonard Dalsemer and his family at their villa in Lyford Cay, New Providence Island, April 1974.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is p...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Tres Vidas, Acapulco
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests enjoy cocktails at the pool bar of the Tres Vidas private members club in Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurre...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Tres Vidas, Acapulco
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests enjoy cocktails at the pool bar of the Tres Vidas private members club in Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurre...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Tres Vidas, Acapulco
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests enjoy cocktails at the pool bar of the Tres Vidas private members club in Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurre...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Tres Vidas, Acapulco
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests enjoy cocktails at the pool bar of the Tres Vidas private members club in Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurre...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
La Concha Clientele
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests at the La Concha Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is prou...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
La Concha Clientele
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests at the La Concha Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is prou...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Lunch At Merle's
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English actress Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979, second from right) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco, 1966.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Lunch At Merle's
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English actress Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979, second from right) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco, 1966.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
La Concha Clientele
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests at the La Concha Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is prou...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Lunch At Merle's
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English actress Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979, second from right) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco, 1966.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Lunch At Merle's
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English actress Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979, second from right) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco, 1966.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Las Brisas
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The coastline near Warren Avis' villa in Las Brisas, Acapulco, January 1978.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer this v...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Gloria Schiff
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gloria Schiff, the twin sister of Consuelo Crespi, with her pet dog and pet birds at Lyford Cay in the Bahamas.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
Com...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Gloria Schiff
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gloria Schiff, the twin sister of Consuelo Crespi, with her pet dog and pet birds at Lyford Cay in the Bahamas.
40 x 40 inches
$3950
30 x 30 inches
$3350
24 x 24 inches
$3000
Com...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Habitation Leclerc
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bathers walking down steps to the swimming pool at Habitation Leclerc, Haiti, January 1975. They are followed by a waiter with cocktails.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your frame...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Top People's Eatery, San Francisco, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1970s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Journalist Lucius Beebe beside a gold place setting in t...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Top People's Eatery, San Francisco, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1970s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Journalist Lucius Beebe beside a gold place setting in t...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
In Vogue
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vogue magazine editor Topsy Taylor, a visitor to Acapulco, circa 1966.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer this vibrant...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Oberon's Lunch
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
circa 1966: Film star Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco. The star is second from the right facing the camera. A Wonderful Time - Slim ...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Oberon's Lunch
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
circa 1966: Film star Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco. The star is second from the right facing the camera. A Wonderful Time - Slim ...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Oberon's Lunch
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
circa 1966: Film star Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco. The star is second from the right facing the camera. A Wonderful Time - Slim ...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Oberon's Lunch
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
circa 1966: Film star Merle Oberon (1911 - 1979) and lunch guests at her villa, La Consentida, Acapulco. The star is second from the right facing the camera. A Wonderful Time - Slim ...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Armando's Beach Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sunbathers at Armando's Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is pro...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Armando's Beach Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sunbathers at Armando's Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is pro...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Armando's Beach Club
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sunbathers at Armando's Beach Club, Acapulco, Mexico, February 1975.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is pro...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
Top People's Eatery, San Francisco, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1970s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Journalist Lucius Beebe beside a gold place setting in t...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
Lambda
Villa Vera
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The bar at the Villa Vera Hotel Spa and Racquet Club in Acapulco, January 1968.
Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide.
Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer thi...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print
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.