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.
Life Size Sculpture of Male Head in Patina Bronze "Giorgi"
Located in New York, NY
Bronze life-size male head with a dark brown patina. Rushton sculpts all of his busts using live models over the course of multiple sittings. While realistic and classical in charac...
Bronze
$18,000
"Jules Bastien LePage" Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Bas Relief of French Painter
By Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Located in New York, NY
Augustus Saint-Gaudens Jules Bastien LePage Bronze 14 1/4 x 10 1/8 inches Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in 1848 in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Bern...
Bronze
$2,400
"Honesty Candle Holders" (2015) By Tony Hochstetler, Original Bronze Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Tony Hochstetler's "Honesty Candle Holders" (2015) are original handmade candle holders made from bronze. TONY HOCHSTETLER is a sculptor of unusual animals and botanical subjects. H...
Bronze
$1,500
"Boa (9/21)" (2014) By Tony Hochstetler, Original Bronze Still Life Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Tony Hochstetler's "Boa" (2014) is an original handmade bronze sculpture that perfectly captures the detail of a boa constrictor snake.
Bronze
Life Size Sculpture of Male Head in Patina Bronze "Diadji"
Located in New York, NY
Bronze life-size male head with a dark brown patina. Sculpted in Florence Italy and casted in bronze just outside of the city. This is an earlier piece that holds a distinctly differ...
Bronze
"Turtle Pad" (2024) By Tony Hochstetler, Original Bronze Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Tony Hochstetler's "Turtle Pad" (2024) is an original handmade bronze sculpture that depicts two turtles, one standing on top of the other. TONY HOCHSTETLER is a sculptor of unusual...
Bronze
Tanager
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by Melissa Cooper. Edition #15/35. Signed on base.
Bronze
Cardinal Carols
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by artist James Moore. Functional bell. Edition 10/30.
Bronze
Nina Simone-Feeling Good
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Nina Simone- Feeling Good Bronze If you are a fan of Nina Simone, you know how beautifully the piece is executed. "Feeling Good" - Birds flying high, Fish ...
Bronze
$17,190
Jules Moigniez Animalier, Bronze Sculpture of Pheasant & Weasel
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze 48 cm hoch signed Jules Moigniez (1835–1894) was a French sculptor best known for his highly detailed bronze animal sculptures, especially birds. Born: 1835 in Senlis, Fran...
Bronze
$10,110Sale Price|40% Off
"Veil of Light", Frederick Hart, Acrylic Sculpture, 22x12x6 in., 310/350, white
Located in Dallas, TX
"Veil of Light" Dimensions: 22" x 12" x 6" Medium: Clear Acrylic Resin Edition of 350 Created in 1987, the work “Veil of Light” is characterized by an other-worldly appearance. Payi...
Resin, Acrylic Polymer
$66,500Sale Price|30% Off
"The Source", Frederick Hart, Bronze Sculpture & Fountain, Half Life Size, 1995
Located in Dallas, TX
"The Source" by Frederick Hart is a figurative bronze with a glass orb and a working water fountain with edition 94/175. This edition has been Sold out from the creation date of 1995...
Bronze
Indigo Bunting
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Artist has inscribed their signature and edition number into the bronze base of the piece. 14/35
Bronze
Rabbit Run
By Walter Matia
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze relief wall hanging sculpture inscribed with the Artist's signature and edition number. 4/10
Bronze
0ctopus Bronze by Sophie Martin 3/8
Located in Pasadena, CA
Animal sculptor Sophie MARTIN creates from inert clay a whole living animal kingdom. She freely observes the animal and captures and interprets a movement; and places it in nature an...
Bronze
$3,604Sale Price|20% Off
Bronze Hippopotame
Located in Pasadena, CA
Animal sculptor Sophie MARTIN creates from inert clay a whole living animal kingdom. She freely observes the animal and captures and interprets a movement; and places it in nature an...
Bronze
Attitude is Everything
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by artist Stefan Savides. Edition 7/19.
Bronze
Mister Personality
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Bronze sculpture signed by the Artist with an edition number on the bronze base. 12/35
Bronze
$500Sale Price|50% Off
'Sitting Ballerina' Cast Bronze Figure on Granite Base
Located in Toronto, ON
Bronze sculpture of a ballerina taking a rest. Her leotard is patinated to a lovely green shade to contrast with the bronze colour of the rest of her figure. Ballet slippers are visi...
Granite, Bronze
$68,000
Dream Big
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Bronze sculpture inscribed by the Artist with their signature and edition number. 3/7
Bronze
Five Hummingbirds
By James Moore
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze functional bell sculpture inscribed with the Artist's signature and edition number. 6/30
Bronze
VALTON Charles. The Griffin Marco. Patinated bronze. Marble base. Signed.
Located in Paris, FR
The Griffin Marco. Patinated bronze. Marble base. Signed and titled. Charles Valton was a French sculptor known for his works created in the animalier style, a 19th-century movement ...
Bronze
Judgment of Wotan; Die Walküre II
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Description Christopher Slatoff’s Judgment of Wotan; Die Walkure II depicts the music drama, Walkure, Die (The Valkyrie)....
Bronze
Ball Elephant Bronze by Sophie Martin
Located in Pasadena, CA
Animal sculptor Sophie MARTIN creates from inert clay a whole living animal kingdom. She freely observes the animal and captures and interprets a movement; and places it in nature an...
Bronze
Kingfisher Fugue
By James Moore
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Bronze Sculpture inscribed with the Artist's signature and an edition number. 9/50
Bronze
The Treasure Hunter - with Stone
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by artist George Walbye. Edition 2/60.
Bronze
Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "The Challenge" (Blue Heron)
Located in Detroit, MI
The Challenge (Blue Heron) by Gunther Granget Ltd Edition #42/200 for Hutschenreuther Porcelain in Germany. Hand painted in fired. Hutschenreuther is a historic German porcelain man...
Porcelain
Louis Alfred Joseph CUVELIER, Bronze + Stationary racehorse
Located in Gent, VOV
Stationary racehorse. This exceptional bronze sculpture by Louis Alfred Joseph Cuvelier depicts a racehorse in mid-stride, captured in a moment of intense energy and motion. Cast by...
Bronze
$68,720Sale Price|20% Off
"The Muses Suit" Bronze Collection of Dance, Music, Poetry, and Theater, 42/65
Located in Dallas, TX
Step into the world of artistic elegance with our exclusive offer on the Muses suite by master sculptor Frederick Hart. Each bronze head, representing Dance, Music, Poetry, and Theat...
Bronze
Coming Through the Rye - Reproduction
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Reproduction Bronze Sculpture inscribed with the Artist's signature.
Bronze
$10,432
Marguerite Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Late 19th Century, Signed
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze patinated bronze, H 69 cm Signed on the bronze base bornJean Didier Début (Moulins 1824 - 1893 Nimrod) Mythological or allegorical subjects Fine detailing and smooth fini...
Bronze
Italian Big Scale Hand Carved Table Top Wood Lion Sculpture
Located in Firenze, IT
This 19th century big scale Italian animalier sculpure features a lion striding forward on a root-wood base, snarling with open mouth and expressive eyes enlivening its rippling mane with an extremely realistic sense of motion. The wooden statue, wonderful as a table top, is entirely hand carved in the round in a single block of solid olive wood, sign of high quality and sculptural artisanal mastery. An original whimsical and impressive centerpiece clearly sculpted by a true artist who carved the block of wood creating this figure of the proudest feline boasting a detailed study of the lion's anatomy.The features on the face, mane, muscles, tail and the paws are still distinctive and full of character as well as the beautifully carved stand. This sculpture boasts smooth surface and a warm patina developed over centuries and exudes wonderful quality and timelessness of the ancient world. The rich original patina brings further intrigue to its intricately carved details. This hand carved wooden lion statue is a great looking antique centrepiece...
Wood
Ceramic Wall Sculpture of Crow #15
By Karla Walter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Cv upon request Karla Walter is an American artist who explores similarities between the social interactions among crows and that of individuals in our society. Karla Walter went to ...
Ceramic, Glaze
Sittin' Duck
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze sculpture engraved with the Artist's signature and edition number. Open Edition
Bronze
Fly Away
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze sculpture engraved with the Artist's signature and edition number. 45/75
Bronze
The Allegory of Spring
Located in New York, NY
Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912) A Belle Epoque bronze statue depicting an Allegory of Spring with a seated maiden looking over to view two birds as a putto gathers a bundle of flowers...
Bronze
Broken Words, Broken Peace
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Bronze sculpture inscribed with the Artist's signature and edition number on the bronze base of the piece. 12/30
Bronze
Born and Raised
By Bryce Pettit
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze sculpture with an inscribed signature and edition number by the Artist on the bronze base of the piece. 11/35
Bronze
"Dreams of Ecstasy", Martin Eichinger, Figurative, Bronze, Romance, 70x12x17 in.
Located in Dallas, TX
Immerse yourself in a world where emotions run high and desires are laid bare with our stunning Dreams of Ecstasy sculpture. Crafted with exquisite detail, this towering masterpiece ...
Bronze
$12,329Sale Price|20% Off
Cat forged crafted in black wrough iron. Unique. In and outdoor fine sculpture
By Ivan Zanoni
Located in Milan, IT
An exquisite and highly tasteful sculpture, The Cat is one of the most recent artworks by the Italian master blacksmith Ivan Zanoni who has recently been put on display at MART, Museum of Modern Art in Rovereto (the most prominent in Italy), which has dedicated a significant exhibition to him. Ivan Zanoni has learned this rare activity from his father, Luciano, who, among other artworks, has sculpted a four-meter olive tree for Melinda and Bill Gates...
Iron
Ralaxing moment.
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Classical ballet was my main source of inspiration. Grace and beauty of ballerinas combining with extremely hard work they do. This combination is shocking and inspiring in the same...
Bronze
Field worker with rake / - The Humility of the Farm Worker -
Located in Berlin, DE
Paul Ludwig Kowalczewski (1865 Mieltschin - 1910 Berlin), Field worker with rake, around 1900. Brown and brown-greenish patinated bronze with ...
Bronze
Woman with child. Metal, marble, onyx, 39x51x15 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Maxim Geo Woman with child Metal, marble, onyx, 39x51x15 cm small defect
Marble, Metal
Julio Pedro Borrego Woman in Bathing Suit
Located in San Francisco, CA
Julio Pedro Borrego is a Colombian artist born in 1951. He is obviously. Influenced by the Colombian master Botero as he likes to portray Rubenesque women. This fabulous.Bronze of a...
Bronze
Herondippity
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by artist Stefan Savides. Edition 13/35.
Bronze
Bronze Walking Elephant By Rembrandt Bugatti (1884 - 1916)
Located in Gent, VOV
Elephant walking Bronze statue of a "large Indian elephant walking" after Rembrandt Bugatti (Italian, 1884-1916). This bronze was cast using the...
Bronze
Bluebell
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by Melissa Cooper. Edition #14/35. Signed on base.
Bronze
$2,750Sale Price|32% Off
Mother and child
Located in Täby, SE
Teuvo Kotilainen was born in 1925 in Rääkylä and died 2010 in Tampere. He was a finnish sculptor inspired by Jussi Mäntynen and his lynxs and he performed se...
Bronze
The Treasure Hunter - with Bracelet
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Bronze sculpture inscribed with the Artist's name and edition number. 1/60
Bronze
On the Edge
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by George Walbye. Edition #8/60. Signed on bronze sculpture.
Bronze
Bear Fetish Bowl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original bronze sculpture by George Walbye. Edition #72/100. Signed on bronze sculpture.
Bronze
Alpine Pikas
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze sculpture engraved with the Artist's signature and edition number. 28/45
Bronze
Kestrel
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Artist has inscribed their signature and edition number into the bronze base of the piece. 4/35
Bronze
States of Matter
By Bryce Pettit
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze sculpture with an inscribed signature by the Artist on the bronze base of the piece.
Bronze
$4,387Sale Price|25% Off
"Reclining Figure", Frederick Hart, Bronze Figurative Sculpture, 7x14x7 in.
Located in Dallas, TX
"Reclining Figure" by Frederick Hart is a figurative female and male figure bronze sculpture with the edition number 54/65. Frederick Hart was an American sculptor. His is best known for his Three Soldiers statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Ex Nihilo (1983) depicting Creation scenes above the doors of the Washington National Cathedral...
Bronze
Little Red Riding Hood Inkwell
Located in Missouri, MO
Antoine Bofill "Little Red Riding Hood" Bronze Inkwell 6H x 10W x 6D Signed Inscribed: 25 Septembre 1920 Antoine Bofill was born in Barcelona i...
Bronze
Another Drink
By Greg Kelsey
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Edition 15/25. Original bronze sculpture by artist Greg Kelsey. Inscribed by artist at base.
Bronze
$1,500
Snap
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Signed/engraved by Artist on bronze base of sculpture with an edition number. Open Edition #4
Bronze
King of the Coop
By Sandy Scott
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Signed/inscribed by Artist on bronze base of piece with edition number. 14/65
Bronze
$7,175
Pole Dancer-original nude figurative bronze sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Bronze