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Realist 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
Five Maiko (Apprentices) Having lunch – Original hand-colored Meiji era photo
Five Maiko (Apprentices) Having lunch – Original hand-colored Meiji era photo

Five Maiko (Apprentices) Having lunch – Original hand-colored Meiji era photo

Located in Middletown, NY

Yokohama, Japan: c 1890. Hand-tinted albumen print, 8 x 10 1/2 inches (203 x 266 mm), numbered B04 in negative, small spots of fixer on lower right corner, pencil inscription on ver...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Photography

Materials

Watercolor, Photographic Paper

Signpost In St. Moritz, Switzerland, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photo
Signpost In St. Moritz, Switzerland, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photo

Signpost In St. Moritz, Switzerland, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photo

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This early 1960s landscape photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a signpost indicating various ski slopes and toboggan tracks in the resort of St Moritz,...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Portrait of Ron Dennis (male nude dancer) original A Chorus Line cast member
Portrait of Ron Dennis (male nude dancer) original A Chorus Line cast member

Portrait of Ron Dennis (male nude dancer) original A Chorus Line cast member

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Roy Blakey (b.1930). Portrait of Ron Dennis, ca. 1972. Mr. Dennis was immortalized in 1975 as the original Richie "Gimme The Ball" Walters in A Chorus Line, after making his Broadw...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Slim Aarons 'Social Call' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
Slim Aarons 'Social Call' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Slim Aarons 'Social Call' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1972—Charley Weaver at the Las Brisas resort in Acapulco, Mexico. Social Call 30 x 40 inches Estate Edition Slim Aarons Estate Edition Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Warm ice. Erotic Photograph, 22.5x16 cm
Warm ice. Erotic Photograph, 22.5x16 cm

Warm ice. Erotic Photograph, 22.5x16 cm

Located in Riga, LV

Warm ice. Erotic Photograph, 22.5x16 cm Erotic woman photograph by Latvian photographer Juris Abramenko. Photo made at winter by the sea at sunny day

Category

1990s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, Poolside Landscape with Acropolis, Athens Greece
Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, Poolside Landscape with Acropolis, Athens Greece

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 Photography

Materials

Lambda

Black and White Misty Sailboat Journey, Regatta Seascape, Mediterranean Coast
Black and White Misty Sailboat Journey, Regatta Seascape, Mediterranean Coast

Black and White Misty Sailboat Journey, Regatta Seascape, Mediterranean Coast

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This is an exclusive limited edition black and white giclée print, on 100% cotton Hahnemühle Photo Rag Fine Art matte paper. This series of black and white photographs captures the raw power and beauty of the ocean and other bodies of water. The images showcase a range of seascapes, from calm and serene to tumultuous and chaotic. Waves are a prominent feature in many of the photographs, with their sharp edges and frothy white caps creating a sense of energy and movement. Other photographs in the series explore the more subtle aspects of the sea, such as the gentle ripples that form on the surface of the water, or the abstract reflections of sunlight and moonlight over the moving surface of the sea. The print measures 24 x 36 inches total, with an image size of 20 x 32 in. and a 2 inch surrounding white border. Details: + Title: Misty Sailboat...

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Rag Paper, Archival Pigment

Japan – Three dancing geisha apprentices – Hand-colored Meiji Period photograph
Japan – Three dancing geisha apprentices – Hand-colored Meiji Period photograph

Japan – Three dancing geisha apprentices – Hand-colored Meiji Period photograph

Located in Middletown, NY

Yokohama, Japan: c 1880. Hand-tinted albumen print, 8 1/8 x 10 1/2 inches (205 x 267 mm), numbered 1625 and captioned "Dancing" in negative at lower right; pencil inscription in Jap...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Photography

Materials

Watercolor, Photographic Paper

Slim Aarons 'Lounging in Verbier' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
Slim Aarons 'Lounging in Verbier' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Slim Aarons 'Lounging in Verbier' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Swiss Alps, 1964: This landscape photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features holiday-makers taking in the sunset on a white snowy mountain top in Verbier, Switzerland in 1964. In classic snowscape of midcentury glamour, winter travelers dressed in 1960s ski fashion relax on colorful red, yellow, and green sun loungers, viewing the blue and white Swiss Alps mountain peaks in the background. This is an estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. Verbier Vacation Slim Aarons Estate Edition Chromogenic Lambda print Modern printing from original transparency Captured 1964 (printed later) Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate Collector will receive the next number in the edition Over the course of a career lasting half a century, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) portrayed high society, aristocracy, authors, artists, business icons, the celebrated and their milieu. In doing so, he captured a golden age of wealth, privilege, beauty and leisure that occurred alongside—but quite separate from—the cultural and political backdrop of the second half of the Twentieth Century. The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints. Lambda printing gives true continuous tone. Photograph is unframed Slide show includes a close-up of the Slim Aarons estate's stamp. Collector will get the next number in the edition We are pleased to offer the entire archive of the Slim Aarons Estate. This is a genuine Slim Aarons Estate photograph, estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. We are pleased to offer this vibrant photograph, printed by the Slim Aarons estate. It is part of the estate's only official limited run, of 150. Estate stamp embossed on recto, hand numbered in ink on recto, with certificate of authenticity from the estate (not a secondary gallery licensing from the estate). Increasingly heralded for his influence, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) made a career out of photographing "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." Aarons is known for his iconic images of Hollywood glamour and luxurious people, places and lifestyles. Aarons began his career as a combat photographer in World War II. Though he earned a Purple Heart for his service, he declared that combat had taught him that the only beach worth landing on was decorated with beautiful people enjoying themselves in the sun. Slim Aarons is noted for his documentation of the Beautiful People over 50 years, encompassing high society, celebrity, aristocracy, and the jet set. He was born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed official photographer at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During World War II he served as an army combat photographer for Yank magazine in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. After the war he became a freelance photojournalist, first based in Hollywood, then Rome, then New York. His photographs appeared in many magazines, including Life, Holiday, Town & Country, Look, Venture, and Travel & Leisure. His first book A Wonderful Time (1974) is considered a classic. The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints. Lambda printing gives true continuous tone. Visual Description: In one of Slim Aarons most popular and iconic series, bright, colorful notes of red, yellow, blue and green punctuate the clean white snow, with majestic peaks in the background. In the foreground, holiday-goers, lounge in a perfect vintage moment of casual winter glamour. Snowy mountaintops rise in the background. Verbier is a stunning mountain and winter ski destination in the Swiss Alps, known for its notoriously challenging slopes as well as its famous apres-ski scene. Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate. Certificate of Authenticity included. Internal: Vintage Verbier, Vintage Ski Photography...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Portrait of Male Model Ingolf, Copenhagen Denmark
Portrait of Male Model Ingolf, Copenhagen Denmark

Portrait of Male Model Ingolf, Copenhagen Denmark

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Victor Arimondi (1942-2001). Portrait of male model Ingolf wearing Torben Hardernberg, ca. 1975. Period print measures 9 x 11 inches. Artist studio stamp on verso. Victor Arimondi ...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Saint-Tropez Boucherie, French Riviera, Estate Edition Photograph
Saint-Tropez Boucherie, French Riviera, Estate Edition Photograph

Saint-Tropez Boucherie, French Riviera, Estate Edition Photograph

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Discover the quintessence of French Riviera charm in Slim Aarons' iconic photograph, 'Saint-Tropez Boucherie,' on Rue des Commercants, Saint-Tropez, 1971. This image is a beautiful intersection of fashion, culture, and everyday life in the sun-drenched streets of Saint-Tropez in August 1971. This photograph features a casual yet captivating scene: two women and a young girl, all dressed in vibrant, vintage early '70s attire in shades of mint green, lemon yellow, and pink, enjoying a leisurely conversation outside a classic red French boucherie or butcher shop. A chic gold and white bicycle, representative of the laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle, is parked unassumingly on the sidewalk. Adding depth to the scene, the shop's proprietor, clad in a purple shirt, can be spotted through the window, lending an authentic touch to the photograph. An enchanting Moroccan-style zellige tile...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Sepia Toned Photograph - Portrait of Ruth - Berkeley 1968
Sepia Toned Photograph - Portrait of Ruth - Berkeley 1968

Sepia Toned Photograph - Portrait of Ruth - Berkeley 1968

Located in Soquel, CA

Photo portrait of a woman by Arnulf Rabl (German-American, 1942-2016). In this soft portrait, the woman has her head turned slightly down, with closed eyes. There is light striking t...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'
Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'

Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'

By Slim Aarons

Located in New York, NY

Lady Daphne Cameron (Mrs George Cameron) on a tiger skin rug in the trophy room at socialite Laddie Sanford's home in Palm Beach, Florida. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition o...

Category

1950s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Faithful Couple: Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithfull at Leixlip Castle, Estate Ed.
Faithful Couple: Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithfull at Leixlip Castle, Estate Ed.

Faithful Couple: Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithfull at Leixlip Castle, Estate Ed.

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Slim Aarons's iconic and unusual photograph of 60's rock and roll legends, captured in a moment of casual glamour. 1968: Singer Marianne Faithfull, the Honorable Desmond Guinness and Mick Jagger (of the Rolling Stones) sit on a sofa under a large gilt framed portrait of a woman in 18th century silk dress at Leixlip Castle, Ireland, the home of Desmond Guinness. The sofa is a deep burgundy red, and the background features a richly patterned and gilded wallpaper...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Sports Car Couple' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
Slim Aarons 'Sports Car Couple' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Slim Aarons 'Sports Car Couple' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1955: John Bryant with his AC sports car in Kinnerton Place, London SW1, Printed Later. His passenger is Margaret McAulay. 40 x 40 inches $3950 30 x 30 inches $3350 20 x 20 inches $3000 Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Undercurrent Projects is pleased to offer this vibrant photograph, printed by the Slim Aarons estate. It is part of the estate's only official limited run, of 150. Estate stamp embossed on recto, hand numbered in ink on recto, with certificate of authenticity from the estate (not a secondary gallery licensing from the estate). Increasingly heralded for his influence, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) made a career out of photographing "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." Aarons is known for his iconic images of Hollywood glamour and luxurious people, places and lifestyles. Undercurrent Projects offers premium quality photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Getty Images Gallery, London. Photographs are printed utilizing the original transparency held at the archive source. Aarons began his career as a combat photographer in World War II. Though he earned a Purple Heart for his service, he declared that combat had taught him that the only beach worth landing on was decorated with beautiful people enjoying themselves in the sun. Slim Aarons is noted for his documentation of the Beautiful People over 50 years, encompassing high society, celebrity, aristocracy, and the jet set. He was born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed official photographer at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During World War II he served as an army combat photographer for Yank magazine in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. After the war he became a freelance photojournalist, first based in Hollywood, then Rome, then New York. His photographs appeared in many magazines, including Life, Holiday, Town & Country, Look, Venture, and Travel & Leisure. His first book A Wonderful Time (1974) is considered a classic. * We are pleased to offer the entire archive of the Slim Aarons Estate, offering the official Slim Aarons Estate Edition (only offered in this edition of 150). Please contact us for additional photographs from Slim Aarons * Slide show includes a close-up of the Slim Aarons estate's stamp. The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints. Lambda printing gives true continuous tone. Internal: Slim Aarons Vintage Sport, Vintage Car photography, Sports Car Photography

Category

1950s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Portrait of John Tattos (male nude)
Portrait of John Tattos (male nude)

Portrait of John Tattos (male nude)

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Roy Blakey (b.1930). Portrait of John Tattos, 1974. Original photographic print on paper, image measures 8.75 x 13 inches, sheet measures 12 x 16 inches. Me...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Slim Aarons 'Desert House Party' (Poolside Series, Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
Slim Aarons 'Desert House Party' (Poolside Series, Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Slim Aarons 'Desert House Party' (Poolside Series, Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Discover this stunning photograph from Slim Aarons sought-after Palm Springs 'Poolside' series. 'Desert House Party' encapsulates the essence of vintage 1970s glamour, captured with vibrant color palette of bold yellow, crisp white, and vibrant turquoise, synonymous with the classic Palm Beach aesthetic. This coveted photograph, taken in 1970, presents an intimate glimpse into a poolside party at a desert house, a Palm Springs masterpiece by famed architect Richard Neutra for Edgar J. Kaufmann. This is not just a photograph, but an entry into the world of luxury, architecture, and the golden era of Palm Springs. Highlighted in the image are industrial designer Raymond Loewy, known for his unparalleled design philosophy, central and standing, and Nelda Linsk, elegantly dressed in a radiant yellow, an iconic cultural patron and the wife of prominent art dealer Joseph Linsk. Also captured in the frame is Helen Dzo Dzo, the former fashion model, gracefully adorned in white lace, adding a touch of timeless elegance to the vibrant gathering. The photograph artistically integrates the natural beauty of the Palm Springs landscape...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Interweave, Big Sur California Nude Breast

Interweave, Big Sur California Nude Breast

Located in Carmel, CA

Hand printed silver gelatin photograph by the artist. From film photography. Available in other sizes.

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Male Nude Desert Landscape Study
Male Nude Desert Landscape Study

Male Nude Desert Landscape Study

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Roy Dean (1925-20020. Male Nude Study, ca. 1975-80. Original period print with artist studio stamp on verso. Print measures 5.25 x 9 inches; 13 x 17 inches fr...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Portrait of Black Dancer Darryl Robinson (male nude)
Portrait of Black Dancer Darryl Robinson (male nude)

Portrait of Black Dancer Darryl Robinson (male nude)

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Roy Blakey (1930-2024). Portrait of Darryl Robinson, ca. 1972. Original photographic print on paper, image measures 11 x 14 inches. Framed measurement 12 x 15 inches. Studio stam...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Ride By North Philly Rows: Black African American urban cowboy in Philadelphia
Ride By North Philly Rows: Black African American urban cowboy in Philadelphia

Ride By North Philly Rows: Black African American urban cowboy in Philadelphia

By Ron Tarver

Located in Bryn Mawr, PA

This photograph of a Black African American cowboy in the urban city of Philadelphia pictured against the city's iconic row homes is part of artist Ron Tarver's long-term, ongoing project, "The Long Ride Home: The Black Cowboy...

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Grace Jones for After Dark
Grace Jones for After Dark

Grace Jones for After Dark

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Victor Arimondi (1942-2001). Portrait of Grace Jones, 1975. Period print measures 8 x 11.75 inches; 10.25 x 13 inches framed. Artist studio stamp on ve...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Lovers, San Francisco.
Lovers, San Francisco.

Lovers, San Francisco.

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Fisher Ross. Untitled, ca. 1975-80. Gelatin Silver print, sheet measures 8 x 10 inches; 17 x 21 inches framed. Artist studio stamp on verso. Excellent cond...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Joe Dallesandro Andy Warhol Trash promo photo
Joe Dallesandro Andy Warhol Trash promo photo

Joe Dallesandro Andy Warhol Trash promo photo

By Jack Mitchell

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Jack Mitchell, American Photographer (1925-2013). Joe Dallesandro, ca. 1973. 11 x 14 inches; 12 x 15 inches framed. Period print from artist's studio. The image was intended for ...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Portrait of Black Dancer (male nude)
Portrait of Black Dancer (male nude)

Portrait of Black Dancer (male nude)

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Roy Blakey (1930-2024). Portrait of Black Dancer, ca. 1972. Mr. Dennis was immortalized in 1975 as the original Richie "Gimme The Ball" Walters in A Chorus Line, after making his B...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Japan – Geisha Girl with Fan – Hand-colored albumen print

Japan – Geisha Girl with Fan – Hand-colored albumen print

By Baron Raimund von Stillfried

Located in Middletown, NY

Yokohama, Japan: c 1885. Hand-tinted albumen print, 10 1/2 x 8 inches (268 x 204 mm), hand-numbered 1103 in negative. Unmounted; housed in an archival mat with clear mounting corner...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Photography

Materials

Watercolor, Photographic Paper

Vertical Black and White Giclée of Zen Forest Waterfall, Landscape, Feng Shui
Vertical Black and White Giclée of Zen Forest Waterfall, Landscape, Feng Shui

Vertical Black and White Giclée of Zen Forest Waterfall, Landscape, Feng Shui

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This is an exclusive limited edition black and white Giclée print, on 100% cotton Hahnemühle Photo Rag Fine Art matte paper. This beautiful black and white high contrast photograph is titled " Zen Forest Waterfall" and displays a stimulating waterfall in a beautiful japanese forest...

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Emulsion, C Print, Giclée, Paper

Realist photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist 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, purple, red, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Slim Aarons, Pico Garcez, Kind of Cyan, and Massimo Listri. 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 photography, so small editions measuring 3.94 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 $105 and tops out at $75,000, while the average work sells for $3,000.