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Photorealist Photography

PHOTOREALISM

A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design.

Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story.

The virtues of the “photo” in Photorealist art — infused as they are with dazzling qualities that are easily blurred in reproduction — are as elusive as they are allusive. “Much Photorealist painting has the vacuity of proportion and intent of an idiot-savant, long on look and short on personal timbre,” John Arthur wrote (rather admiringly) in the catalogue essay for Realism/Photorealism, a 1980 exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At its best, Photorealism is a perpetually paused tug-of-war between the sacred and the profane, the general and the specific, the record and the object.

Robert Bechtle invented Photorealism, in 1963,” says veteran art dealer Louis Meisel. “He took a picture of himself in the mirror with the car outside and then painted it. That was the first one.”

The meaning of the term, which began for Meisel as “a superficial way of defining and promoting a group of painters,” evolved with time, and the core group of Photorealists slowly expanded to include younger artists who traded Rolleiflexes for 60-megapixel cameras, using advanced digital technology to create paintings that transcend the detail of conventional photographs.

On 1stDibs, the collection of Photorealist art includes work by Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Chuck Close, Audrey Flack, Charles Bell and others.

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Style: Photorealist
Kate Bush Underwater Tryptich
Located in Austin, TX
Underwater triptyc of Kate Bush captured during a photo shoot in London in 1989 Signed limited edition print, number 4/50 Guido Harari revealed during an i...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Giclée

The Rolling Stones "Sarum Chase Contact Sheet" Beggars Banquet
Located in Austin, TX
Sarum Chase Contact Sheet” by Michael Joesph from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Ham...
Category

1960s Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

Pool Party II - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 20x35
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of two naked young women in the pool. The minimalistic photograph partially depicts bodies in blue color schema. Original gallery quality print signed by th...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Wild Blood - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 50x35"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
There are no rules for luck. I was sure the new girl would need practice and practice - and I was wrong. She was just perfect from the first second. Next month she got married and m...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Steps II - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 24х18"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman sitting on pool steps. Original gallery quality print signed by the artist. Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

100th Anniversary Celebration Coffret # 4 - Travel - 1956 - Vintage Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition Fabrizio La Torre’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (1921-2021) Set # 3 - Roma (Italy) Limited edition of 100 Coffrets for each themes, all artworks p...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 46" x 35"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle. Her head is above the water, hidden from the camera. Original gallery quality print signed by the artist. ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

7247
Located in New York, NY
Bob Tabor is a well-established, New York based, photographer best known for his exquisite large scaled portraits of subjects ranging from horses to seascapes. It is his unique appro...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment

The two booksellers, Roma 1968 - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in perfect condition Limited Edition of 5 + 2 AP The two booksellers, Rome (1968), both very elegant in jackets and ties, on their way to put their cart of b...
Category

1960s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Fratello e Sorella - Thailand 1961 - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition This photo was made in 1961, printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical ...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Modern fine art Still Life Photo Print "My grenadine drink moment" limited edt
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"My Grenadine Drink Moment" (2025) Medium: Archival pigment print on premium matte photo paper Dimensions: 20 x 27 cm / 7.8 x 10.6 inches (unframed) Edition: Limited Edition of 50 Si...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Jimi Hendrix classic color by Gered Mankowitz
Located in Austin, TX
Jimi Hendrix “Classic Color” 1967 by Gered Mankovitz Available is the following sizes, signed and numbered by Gered Mankowitz. 16x20” - Edition 50 20x24" - Edition 50 30x40” - Edit...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

L’Addio, New York, December 1955 - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork #1 / 5 sold in perfect condition printed on baryta heavyweight paper & framed (black metal border) From the collection called "Art 2014", format 30x42 cm. SERIES OF 5 PRINTS + 2 AP Artwork printed later on fine art papers later (2014) from black & white negatives processed in 1962 “L’Addio”, the farewell, New York, December 1955. At the stern of an Italian liner carrying him back to Genoa the photographer could not pass up the opportunity to capture this sweetly simple moment where an Italian couple say goodbye to the American metropolis by waving a white handkerchief...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Orgasm - underwater photograph - print on paper 27" x 35"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A striking underwater fine art photograph captures a floating figure in a crimson dress against a deep black background. The composition masterfully blends contemporary underwater ph...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Gli Elegantoni, 1956 - Roma - Contemporary Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 2 on 5 sold in perfect condition Print called "Art 2014", format 42 x 60 cm. SERIES OF 5 PRINTS + 2 AP On a cart in the street, the complicated choice of a tie, an essentia...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Tutu Skirt - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on paper 35" x 57"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater black and white nude photograph of a young female dancer in the pool. The dancer is putting on her tut skirt. The photograph depicts her beautiful naked butt about to hid...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Archival Paper

"Tibetan Prayer Flags" Sepia Toned Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
"Tibetan Prayer Flags" Sepia Toned Photograph Serene photo of flags in a yard by Heidi L Sherman (American, 1954-5014). Two rows of prayer flags...
Category

1990s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Platinum

Japan Cherry Trees - Brussels - Gallery Print Edition - Panoramic Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Panoramic view from the entrance of the Josaphat park in Brussels made from 12 pictures Pigment photographic paper - photography & fine art print © Jean Pierre De Neef You make my h...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Bent Sound - underwater portrait of Njomza Vitia - archival pigment print 18x24"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Bent Sound" - An ethereal underwater fine art photograph that captures the intersection of music and movement through a portrait of singer Njomza Vitia. This submerged portrait tran...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Modern fine art Floral Photo Print "This bouquet is for you" limited edt
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Title: "This bouquet is for you" Medium: Archival pigment print on premium matte photo paper Dimensions: 20 x 27 / 7,8 x 10,6 inches (unframed) Edition: Limited Edition of 50 Signed ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Soft Dance II - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival print 23х17"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a naked young woman diving in a pool. Original gallery quality archival pigment print signed by the artist. Limited edition of 24 Paper size: 24x18"...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Modern fine art Still Life Photo Print "Delight of french toast " limited edt
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"The Delight of French Toast" (2025) Medium: Archival pigment print on premium matte photo paper Dimensions: 20 x 27 cm / 7,8 x 10,6 inches (unframed) Edition: Limited Edition of ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Jefferson Airplane 1968 for the cover of Life Magazine by Art Kane
Located in Austin, TX
Taken for the cover of Life Magazine, Jefferson Airplane, 1968 by Art Kane Art Kane pioneered the art of conceptual portraiture. He didn’t photograph artists doing their thing, he p...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

"Mick Giving Keith The Boot" signed limited edition print by Bill Wyman
Located in Austin, TX
"Mick Giving Keith The Boot", signed limited edition print by Rolling Stones bassist, Bill Wyman. Mick Jagger helping Keith Richards with his snake-skin boots on the second day of ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

David Bowie Ziggy Stardust contact sheet by Duffy. Large format limited edition
Located in Austin, TX
Museum quality fine art contact sheet print of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, taken by Brian Duffy in London, 1972, from the official Duffy Archive. Available in one size - 30"x40" ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

La Rolls del Re - Bangkok - Thaïland - Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Edition 1/5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition This photo was made in 1961, printed later, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parame...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Super Constellation Lockheed - Full Framed Fine Art Edition
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition This photo was made in 1953, the negative was digitized during the artist's lifetime and the technical parameters (fram...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Blood and Milk VII - underwater nude photograph - print on aluminum 36" x 25"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a young woman with white tulle scarf taking off her red skirt on bright red background. Original digital print on aluminum plate signed by the art...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Metal

Noel Gallagher of Oasis by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Noel Gallagher of the legendary band Oasis taken in NEC Birmingham, England in the mid-90s, taken by Jill Furmanovsky (featuring his signature Union Jack guitar). Signed and number...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Die Loreley - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 16x24"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a beautiful young woman wrapped in tulle. The photograph was taken with dark red background. Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archiv...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Pigment

TOWNS VAN ZANDT, TENNESSEE 1996 by Jim Herrington
Located in Austin, TX
Townes Van Zandt, Tennessee, 1996 by Jim Herrington 17x22" Archival pigment print on baryta 315 gsm, acid-free, 100% cotton-fiber paper. Edition 75 ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Rolling Stones "Swarkestone Contact Sheet" Beggars Banquet
Located in Austin, TX
“Swarkestone Contact Sheet” by Michael Joesph from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, London, 1968. Featu...
Category

1960s Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

David Bowie "He'd Blow Our Minds" by Sukita
Located in Austin, TX
16" x 20", signed limited edition print of David Bowie, titled "He'd Blow Our Minds" by Masayoshi Sukita. This print is also available as a 30x40" signed limited edition print. “...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

L'Attesa, 1962 - Roma - IT - Contemporary Photorealist Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 4 on 5 sold in perfect condition Print from the collection called "Art 2014", format 42 x 60 cm. SERIES OF 5 PRINTS + 2 AP Artwork printed later on fine art papers later (2014) from black & white negatives processed in 1962 She was there, leaning against a wall, she seemed to be waiting," says the photographer. I did not understand what she could expect, since few vehicles could have passed through this narrow passage. So I leaned against the wall almost in front of her, I also waited and this ray of sunshine came to play in the hanging linen...
Category

1960s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Slow Time - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 16"x23"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a young woman in a swimming pool and her shadow on the bottom of the pool. Original gallery quality print signed by the artist. Digital archival pigme...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

David Bowie "The First Time I Saw You" 1972 by Sukita
Located in Austin, TX
16" x 20", signed limited edition print of David Bowie, titled "The First Time I Saw You" by Masayoshi Sukita. Limited edition number 2/30 - signed and numbered by Sukita This pr...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

Steps II - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 35х24"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman sitting on pool steps. Original gallery quality print signed by the artist. Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Kate Bush
Located in Austin, TX
Portrait of singer Kate Bush by acclaimed photographer, Gered Mankowitz, taken in his London studio in 1978. Kate Bush has seen a huge resurgence since her s...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

Dragon Dreams - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival paper 23x35"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater black and white nude photograph of a model on black background. Her distorted reflection in the inner water surface reminds some mysterious creature. Original gallery qua...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

David Bowie at a Diego Rivera mural 1997
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie by Fernando Aceves. Location: Mexico City Date: October 1997 Before his Mexico City concert, David commissioned me to photograph him in front of various murals painted by 20th century Mexican artists...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Giclée

Winter Fishing - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 25" x 35"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Winter Fishing by Alex Sher presents a striking underwater nude photograph featuring a young naked woman entangled in fishing nets beneath dark waters. The monochromatic palette crea...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Blood and Milk III - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 23" x 17"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Blood and Milk III" charts new territory in contemporary underwater fine art photography. Set against a mesmerizing crimson background that evokes molten lava, the image captures a ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

TANNER, ALMOST SPRING - In Celebration of Pride Month
Located in New Orleans, LA
Stone and Press Gallery is excited to offer several works in celebration of the LGBTQ community. THIS VINTAGE SILVER GELATIN PRINT IS FROM AN EDITION OF 3. The photograph of Tanner were originally shot on a Polaroid Land 360 from my series ‘Diary Non Diary’. Sebastian Perinotti...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

David Bowie The Archer - New special edition
Located in Austin, TX
NEW - Special limited edition series produced for the 2023 David Bowie Worldwide Fan Convention in June 2023. This iconic image of David Bowie as The Thin White Duke was taken by re...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Marina Di Massa, plexiglass photgraph, Italy beach scene
Located in Miami, FL
Massimo Vitali (b. Como, Italy in 1944) is an Italian photographer based in Lucca. Vitali studied photography at the London College of Printing. He initially worked as a photojournal...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Midtown Stillife
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture is a part of photographs which Kallay done in 1965 for a German book publisher about NYC.
Category

1960s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Pavarotti, 1977
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Francesco Scavullo (after) Title: Pavarotti, 1977 Portfolio: A Photographic Retrospective, Volume I: Song Medium: Gelatin Silver Print Year: 2004 Edition: 106/150 Signed: Sig...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 1 - New York - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 1 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Yosemite Falls Close Up, " Black & White Photograph signed by Thomas Ferderbar
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Yosemite Falls Close Up" is an original black and white archival pigment print. Using the original photograph taken in 1958. This is signed by the artist Thomas Ferderbar in the lower right and titled on the lower left using silver sharpie. A view from down stream of Yosemite Fall, so that the viewer feels as if they are there comparing human size to the large waterfall. Boulders and trees frame the view making it all the more impressive. Paper Size: 50" x 40" Frame Size: 54" x 44" Artist Statement: "I wanted to become a photographer at the age of 12, when my sister Grace gave me a Kodak Box...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Pigment

David Bowie Aladdin Sane Eyes Open by Brian Duffy with gold frame
Located in Austin, TX
David Bowie Aladdin Sane "Eyes Open" print from Brian Duffy, taken during the phot shoot for the Aladdin Sane album cover. This "Eyes Open" shot was introduced for the first time to promote the hugely successful David Bowie Is...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

Capitola, California Venetian Hotel Color Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
Santa Cruz, California’s Capitola Venetian Hotel Color Photograph Color photograph of the Venetian Hotel located in Capitola Village, California by John F. Hunter (American). The vi...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Paper, Ink, Photographic Paper

Breakdance - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 43х62"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a girl dancing in a swimming pool. The dark pool is filled with sharp sunbeams. Some mysterious light ornaments cover the pool bottom and inner water su...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Dragon Dreams - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival paper 35x52"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater black and white nude photograph of a model on black background. Her distorted reflection in the inner water surface reminds some mysterious creature. Original gallery qua...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

The Rolling Stones "Mick Feeding Goat" Beggars Banquet by Michael Joseph framed
Located in Austin, TX
The Rolling Stones "Mick Feeding Goat" - Outtake from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, London, 1968, si...
Category

1960s Photorealist Photography

Materials

C Print

On the Downton Shore
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture of NYU was done in 1965 as a collection of photographs for a German book editor. Later a phonebook about NYU was published.
Category

1960s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Mezzogiorno al Pantheon, Rome, 1958 - Limited Edition Black & White Photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork sold in perfect condition Double frame under American box presenting the two sides of the obelisk fountain on the Place du Panthéon. This work by Giacomo della Porta, (and li...
Category

1950s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Wild Blood - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 62x43"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
There are no rules for luck. I was sure the new girl would need practice and practice - and I was wrong. She was just perfect from the first second. Next month she got married and m...
Category

2010s Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Bob Dylan portrait by Guido Harari
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Bob Dylan by Guido Harari, taken in Sirmione, Italy, 1984. Available in the following sizes: A. 11” x 16” - Edition 50 B. 16” x 20” - Edition 50 C. 20” x 28” - Edition 25 D. 32” x 44” - Edition 10 E. 44” x 59” - Edition 5 Guido Harari has photographed many music legends in his prolific career in Italy. Lou Reed said about him: "I'm always happy when Guido takes my picture because I know it will be a musical picture. And it will also have some poetry and feeling to it. The things that Guido captures with his portraits are generally speaking ignored by other photographers. I consider Guido a friend, not a photographer". Guido started out in the early Seventies as a music photographer and journalist, also exploring reportage, fashion, advertising and corporate photography. He’s produced record covers for Kate Bush, David Crosby...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Oil Peir (Pier)
Located in San Francisco, CA
This Photograph titled "Oil Peir (Pier)" c.1960, is a gelatin silver print by noted photographer Richard Stacks, 1930-2015. It has the stamp of the Baltimore Sunpapers and the name o...
Category

Mid-20th Century Photorealist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Photorealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist 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 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, red, pink, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Allan Tannenbaum, Lynn Goldsmith, and Jake Chessum. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Archival Pigment 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 Photorealist photography, so small editions measuring 5.5 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $11 and tops out at $200,247, while the average work sells for $1,930.

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