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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
Barcelona Beach Night Horizon, Nocturnal Seascape Cyanotype on Watercolor Paper
Barcelona Beach Night Horizon, Nocturnal Seascape Cyanotype on Watercolor Paper

Barcelona Beach Night Horizon, Nocturnal Seascape Cyanotype on Watercolor Paper

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. Outstanding "Barcelona Beach Night Horizon" shows a nocturnal seascape, taken on the Barcelona beach. Details: + Title: B...

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Emulsion, Printer's Ink, Watercolor, Photographic Paper, Color, Photogram

Extra Large Cyanotype Seascape of Pacific Ocean Currents, Nautical Blue & White
Extra Large Cyanotype Seascape of Pacific Ocean Currents, Nautical Blue & White

Extra Large Cyanotype Seascape of Pacific Ocean Currents, Nautical Blue & White

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. "Pacific Ocean Currents (Blue Border)" is a handmade cyanotype print of rough water texture resembling Pacific Ocean swell...

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Watercolor, Other Medium, Rag Paper, Lithograph

Seventies Psychedelic Flowers, Pink Lilys Bouquet, Modern Still Life, Giclée
Seventies Psychedelic Flowers, Pink Lilys Bouquet, Modern Still Life, Giclée

Seventies Psychedelic Flowers, Pink Lilys Bouquet, Modern Still Life, Giclée

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This is an exclusive limited edition color Giclée print, printed on matte photographic paper. The print measures 36 x 24 inches total, with an image size of 32 x 20 in. and a 2 inch...

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Emulsion, Photographic Paper, C Print, Giclée

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

Japan – Samurai - Hand-colored Meiji Period photograph

Japan – Samurai - Hand-colored Meiji Period photograph

Located in Middletown, NY

Yokohama, Japan: c 1890. Hand-tinted albumen print, 10 1/8 x 7 3/4 inches (258 x 198 mm), numbered B 1161 and captioned in negative at lower right; very light cockling, brightly col...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Photography

Materials

Watercolor, Photographic Paper

Slim and Sphinx, Estate Edition: New York DJ Slim Hyatt at Shepheard's
Slim and Sphinx, Estate Edition: New York DJ Slim Hyatt at Shepheard's

Slim and Sphinx, Estate Edition: New York DJ Slim Hyatt at Shepheard's

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

circa 1964: New York DJ Slim Hyatt at work in Shepheard's night club whose decor recreates a famous Cairo bar. Two gold and turquoise sphinxes flank the DJ, who is posed behind two record players and before a glittering sculpture. Hyatt is often credited as the first disco DJ in the US. Initially hired by Oliver Coquelin upon the opening of Le Club, Hyatt quickly became one of the most revered figures in the emerging disco scene. He also DJed at Doubles from 1984 to 1995, and has been called by the painter and bandleader Peter Duchin “the first discotheque artist in New York." Slim and Sphinx, 1964 Slim Aarons Estate Edition Photograph Stamped and hand numbered by the Slim Aarons Estate. Certificate of Authenticity included. Chromogenic Lambda C-type print on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper Crisp detail, continuous tone and brilliant color Paper weight 210gms Matte Satin Surface Printed Later Collector will get 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, a history of glamour that occurred alongside—but quite separate from—the cultural and political backdrop of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer. 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. 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. Increasingly known for his influence, Aarons's casually glamorous jetset aesthetic can be seen today in fashion, art, and celebrity photography. Recent articles credit his work with inspiring the casually flawless style of top Instagram influencers, full of sunshine and escapism. 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, offering the official Slim Aarons Estate Edition (only offered in this edition of 150). Please contact us for additional photographs from Slim Aarons * Internal: Vintage New York, Vintage glamour, 60's glamour, Vintage DJ...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Backgammon by the Pool, Estate Edition
Backgammon by the Pool, Estate Edition

Backgammon by the Pool, Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Women playing backgammon while sunbathing at the Habitation Leclerc pool, January 1975 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, a history of glamour that occurred alongside—but quite separate from—the cultural and political backdrop of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Increasingly known for his influence, Aarons's casually glamorous jetset aesthetic can be seen today in fashion, art, and celebrity photography. Recent articles credit his work with inspiring the casually flawless style of top Instagram influencers, full of sunshine and escapism. Reference: "Dive in: how Slim Aarons art directed the poolside summer. French brand Maje are the latest label to take inspiration from Slim Aarons’ pictures of the jetset on holiday." Slim Aarons Backgammon by the pool...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Steve McCurry 'Afghan Girl'

Steve McCurry 'Afghan Girl'

By Steve McCurry

Located in New York, NY

Steve McCurry Afghan Girl 1984 (printed later C-print on Fuji Crystal archival paper 24 x 20 inches Signed and dated Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic voices in contempo...

Category

1980s Realist Photography

Materials

C Print

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

Self Portrait on Holiday in Athens, Greece
Self Portrait on Holiday in Athens, Greece

Self Portrait on Holiday in Athens, Greece

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Legendary photographer Slim Aarons relaxes in a self portrait shot in Athens, near the Acropolis. Slim Aarons said, "I love a solo holiday. It tends to refresh the part of oneself that is most depleted by modern life — patience. "Let me dispel a few myths. You will be lonely. No: you won’t. My solo travels in Paris have brought many perfect hours of being alone but not a moment of loneliness. People who depend on other people are often in hiding from themselves. Two and a quarter million people live in the City of Light: you will see many of them and you will pass them in the street, but when you see Notre Dame after dark and walk home and perhaps stop to have a drink in the Marais, you can feel that the only thing that is missing from your experience is the common dependency on someone to distract your attention. "I’ve had solo pints of Guinness in the pubs of County Kerry and County Cork. I’ve walked across the sage- and juniper-scented maquis of Corsica on a spring day, where you can still find the world of Napoleon’s childhood. More than once I went to the Isle of Iona in the Scottish Hebrides...

Category

1950s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Forest Silhouette Sunset, Blue Nature Large Triptych, Cyanotype on Paper, 2025
Forest Silhouette Sunset, Blue Nature Large Triptych, Cyanotype on Paper, 2025

Forest Silhouette Sunset, Blue Nature Large Triptych, Cyanotype on Paper, 2025

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This series of cyanotype triptychs showcases the beauty of nature scenes, including stunning beaches and oceans, as well as the intricate textures of water, forests, and skies. These...

Category

2010s Realist Photography

Materials

Paper, Lithograph, Monotype

Hotel on Lake Como, Estate Edition
Hotel on Lake Como, Estate Edition

Hotel on Lake Como, Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The swimming pool and jetty at the Villa d'Este Hotel, Lake Como, Italy, June 1983 Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and stamped by the Slim ...

Category

1980s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Abstracted Trees Reflected in Water - Black & White Landscape Photograph
Abstracted Trees Reflected in Water - Black & White Landscape Photograph

Abstracted Trees Reflected in Water - Black & White Landscape Photograph

By Jeff Nixon

Located in Soquel, CA

Abstracted Trees Reflected in Water - Black & White Landscape Photograph Beautiful black and white abstracted landscape photo by Jeff Nixon (American, 1952-2022). A grove of tre...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist Photography

Materials

Paper, Silver Gelatin

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

Dunes Eureka Valley - Black & White Landscape Photograph 1984 Signed John Nixon
Dunes Eureka Valley - Black & White Landscape Photograph 1984 Signed John Nixon

Dunes Eureka Valley - Black & White Landscape Photograph 1984 Signed John Nixon

By Jeff Nixon

Located in Soquel, CA

Half Dome in Yosemite - Black & White Landscape Photograph Beautiful black and white landscape photograph showing the Dunes at Eureko Valley California by Jeff Nixon (American, ...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist Photography

Materials

Paper, Silver Gelatin

Slim Aarons 'Palm Beach Society' Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Slim Aarons 'Palm Beach Society' Slim Aarons Estate Edition

Slim Aarons 'Palm Beach Society' Slim Aarons Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Jim Kimberly and his wife (far left) and friends with his white sports car and white boats moored on Lake Worth. A Palm Beach socialite, Kimberly acts as Honorary Consul of Jordan. April 1968. (Slim Aarons / Getty Images) Slim Aarons Palm Beach Society...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

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.