Skip to main content

Realist Art

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.

to
1,606
4,877
2,834
2,551
1,884
1,747
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
340
1,135
5,486
6,958
118
73
124
138
170
556
1,061
1,087
721
287
203
115,086
63,508
57,541
26,928
14,709
9,361
6,500
5,645
4,178
3,032
2,483
2,379
2,242
649
6,927
4,714
1,593
5,559
2,791
2,094
1,739
1,725
1,245
1,220
1,089
927
917
835
825
679
668
666
626
586
551
526
485
7,855
5,576
2,895
2,747
2,623
2,643
121
98
88
69
4,030
3,747
9,098
3,891
Style: Realist
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 Art

Materials

Lambda

Let Go 2 - Original oil painting - Zack Zdrale
Let Go 2 - Original oil painting - Zack Zdrale

Let Go 2 - Original oil painting - Zack Zdrale

Located in Chicago, IL

Let Go 1, 2, 3 (Series) In these paintings, Zdrale depicts multiple figures—often iterations of the same man—locked in a cycle of struggle. The ropes that coil around or extend from ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Cloud Composition 9" Original Realist Skyscape with Clouds
"Cloud Composition 9" Original Realist Skyscape with Clouds

"Cloud Composition 9" Original Realist Skyscape with Clouds

Located in Denver, CO

"Cloud Composition 9" is a realistic capturing of a golden skyscape, created with oil paint on panel. This piece is framed at 9.5 x 9.5 inches and is ready to hang. Jesse Mangerson ...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

River Landscape Painting of Scottish Highlands by 19th Century British Artist
River Landscape Painting of Scottish Highlands by 19th Century British Artist

River Landscape Painting of Scottish Highlands by 19th Century British Artist

By Alfred de Breanski Sr.

Located in Preston, GB

River Landscape Painting of the Scottish Highlands by 19th Century British Artist, Alfred De Breanski Snr, (1852 - 1928). Signed on the front (l...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Cotton Canvas, Wood, Linen, Canvas

Just Keep the Connection
Just Keep the Connection

Just Keep the Connection

Located in Zofingen, AG

This artwork elegantly blends classic and contemporary elements, depicting a young woman in a stylish black outfit holding a phone to her ear. She stands against an endless blue sky...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Young Nude Female Boudoir Scene Erotic Painting
Young Nude Female Boudoir Scene Erotic Painting

Young Nude Female Boudoir Scene Erotic Painting

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Beautiful nude female portrait boudoir scene by Cynthia Kleinmeyer. Watercolor on paper measures 8 x 12 inches. Framed measurement: 12 x 16 inches. Signed and dated 1932 by artist...

Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

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 Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Silent Stream, Original Painting
Silent Stream, Original Painting

Silent Stream, Original Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A soft winter hush settles over a quiet bend where a dark ribbon of water slips gently through snow-covered banks. Sparse reeds and delicate branches create a m...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Pigeon

Pigeon

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original oil painting signed by the Artist in the lower left corner. Unframed.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

The Popcorn
The Popcorn

The Popcorn

Located in Zofingen, AG

This painting presents a sophisticated visual paradox: a woman dressed in the refined style of a 17th-century portrait — black dress, lace collar, white bonnet — is interrupted by un...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Northern Hush, Original Painting
Northern Hush, Original Painting

Northern Hush, Original Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
In this quietly cinematic winter scene, artist Vic Roschkov captures the faded grace of an old farmhouse beneath drifting snow. Stark trees reach almost lifelik...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Gloria
Gloria

Gloria

By Mian Situ

Located in Pasadena, CA

Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. Signed "Mian Situ" on lower left Description Mian Situ portrays his wife, Gloria, as a woman of beauty, dignity, cultu...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cat Animal Watercolor on Paper Handmade Painting, One of a Kind

Cat Animal Watercolor on Paper Handmade Painting, One of a Kind

Located in Granada Hills, CA

472 Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan, Work: Original Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Watercolor on Paper Year: 2025 Style: Classic Art Title: Cat Size: 12 x 16 inch, (30...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Hercules Mourning the Death of his Cupbearer Hylas

Hercules Mourning the Death of his Cupbearer Hylas

By Mark Beard

Located in New York, NY

[Hippolyte-Alexandre Michallon (1849-1930)] Oil on canvas Signed in red, l.l. 48 x 60 inches, canvas size 54 x 66 inches in gold leaf frame 61 x 74 x 6 inches, framed This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “By his own account, the most ambitious work of Michallon’s career was a thirty-foot canvas depicting Noah’s Ark, which he exhibited in the Salon of 1875, where it went unmentioned by the critics. Preparatory work for this elaborate composition took him frequently to the Jardin des Plantes, where he made painstaking drawings and oil sketches of the animals on view. These studies were enthusiastically remarked upon by visitors to his studio, some of whom counseled him to give up history painting altogether and pursue the less dignified but presumably more lucrative career of animal painter. Following this advice, and profiting from the tremendous vogue in 1880s Europe for all things African...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Marx. Dog. Dachshund. Animals. Dogs. small. Black. White.
Marx. Dog. Dachshund. Animals. Dogs. small. Black. White.

Marx. Dog. Dachshund. Animals. Dogs. small. Black. White.

Located in Oslo, NO

This small but elegant work is a black-and-white portrait of a dog. It is painted using the signature technique of oil on photographic paper (reverse side). Thick, plasticized photog...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Oil

Robin Bird Watercolor on Paper Handmade Painting, One of a Kind

Robin Bird Watercolor on Paper Handmade Painting, One of a Kind

Located in Granada Hills, CA

Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan, Work: Original Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Watercolor on Paper Year: 2025 Style: Classic Art Title: Robin Size: 12 x 16 inch, (30x4...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

triptych of Pocket Speckled Green Pear, Bright Clementine, Crimson Strawberry 2c
triptych of Pocket Speckled Green Pear, Bright Clementine, Crimson Strawberry 2c

triptych of Pocket Speckled Green Pear, Bright Clementine, Crimson Strawberry 2c

By Dani Humberstone

Located in Deddington, GB

Pocket Bright Clementine is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque still life painting. The paintings are set in a black wood layered frame...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Wa Market
Wa Market

Wa Market

By Mian Situ

Located in Pasadena, CA

Provenance On consignment to the gallery from a private collector in Newport Beach, California. Signed "Mian Situ" on lower right Artist Statement "The location is in a small town ...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Satirical French Illustration of Man and Woman
Satirical French Illustration of Man and Woman

Satirical French Illustration of Man and Woman

By Gaston Hoffmann

Located in Soquel, CA

Satirical French Illustration of Man and Woman Comical illustration by Gaston Hoffmann (French, 1883-1967) titled "un bon tien vant amieux que deux tu l'auras" in French, "one real ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Outdoor Market WPA sketch
Outdoor Market WPA sketch

Outdoor Market WPA sketch

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

David Margolis (b.1911). Outdoor Market, ca. 1935. Charcoal on paper, image measures 7 x 9.5 inches. Framed measurement 13 x 15.5 inches. Signed lower right. David Margolis (Septem...

Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

19th Century British "On the Medway. Morning"
19th Century British "On the Medway. Morning"

19th Century British "On the Medway. Morning"

Located in San Francisco, CA

Masterfully executed 19th century British oil on canvas. This fabulous piece depicts a possible battle scene at Medway, which in the 1600s the Dutch had a huge victory against the Br...

Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Interstate, Oil Painting
Interstate, Oil Painting

Interstate, Oil Painting

By Jesse Aldana

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Jesse Aldana presents a skyscape from a ground-level angle in realistic detail. White clouds, flattened in their haste, race across the sky. It leaves ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Igoshev, V. A. – Young Reindeer Herder, Peoples of the Russian North
Igoshev, V. A. – Young Reindeer Herder, Peoples of the Russian North

Igoshev, V. A. – Young Reindeer Herder, Peoples of the Russian North

Located in Firenze, IT

Signed lower left V . Igoshev. Dated 1961 Old labels from soviet period gallery. Painted in 1961, this work belongs to Vladimir Igoshev’s celebrated cycle dedicated to the Indigenous...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Still life with peppers Oil Painting by Igor Sventitski
Still life with peppers Oil Painting by Igor Sventitski

Still life with peppers Oil Painting by Igor Sventitski

Located in Zofingen, AG

Original oil painting on canvas, still life painting made under natural light. This artwork is painted using high-quality fine linen canvas and sold unframed, stretched, and ready to...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

404. Exit Not Found
404. Exit Not Found

404. Exit Not Found

Located in Zofingen, AG

The world offers fewer exits. Fewer phone booths. Fewer places to disconnect from the noise. In this striking, hyperreal scene, a woman walks alone past a red booth glowing in the ni...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Forgotten Dwelling, Original Painting
Forgotten Dwelling, Original Painting

Forgotten Dwelling, Original Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A weathered farmhouse stands silent against a late fall sky, its boarded windows holding the echoes of another time. Dry grasses and bare trees seem to lean inw...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Garden Scene Called Pergola Noor by Female Artist Clara Löfgren
Garden Scene Called Pergola Noor by Female Artist Clara Löfgren

Garden Scene Called Pergola Noor by Female Artist Clara Löfgren

Located in Stockholm, SE

Clara Löfgren (1843–1923) Sweden Pergola Noor, c.1890 oil on canvas laid down on board no signature unframed: 27.7 x 26.7 cm (10.9 x 10.5 in) framed: 35 x 34 cm (13.8 x 13.4 in) P...

Category

1890s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

19th-Century Portrait of A Woman in A Lace Bonnet
19th-Century Portrait of A Woman in A Lace Bonnet

19th-Century Portrait of A Woman in A Lace Bonnet

Located in San Francisco, CA

The label on the back has faded with time, but it appears to read “His Great Grandmother’s Portrait presented to George Michael Beauridge on his 18th birthday by his Aunt (?) July 10...

Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Influence of Red (male portrait)
Influence of Red (male portrait)

Influence of Red (male portrait)

By Gilbert Lewis

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Gilbert Lewis (b.1945). Influence of Red (male portrait), ca. 1990s. Oil on masonite panel, 16 x 20 inches. Signed upper right. Excellent condition. Measures 18 x 22 inches in custom gold leaf float frame. Original gallery labels affixed on verso. Provenance: estate of the artist. Artist statement: Figurative art is a vital active process. The image has its own meaning; not storytelling, not just a picture of a face or a flower. Neither is it simply an exercise in the arrangement of shapes or colors. I want to translate my immediate impression into paint to present the image of an outstretched branch of flowers or a face – direct and simple. My art reflects human concerns expressed symbolically, through fantasy and in a more concrete manner in the process of making the representation itself. Art is my response to the image, the end result of an active process of exploration of the limits of the paint on paper within the confines of representation. The painting of a face is not just a face. My feelings are expressed through these images. My paintings speak to anyone in touch with their own humanity; to anyone else my art may be dismissed as “to personal”. Biography: Gilbert Braddy Lewis born September 25, 1945 in Hampton, Va. Son of David Blake Lewis (born in Atlanta, Ga.) and Gladys Louise Braddy [Lewis] (of Sanford, Fl.); brother of David Blake Lewis (Jr.) and Linda Lewis [Hunter]. The family resides at 3 South Linden Street, Hampton, Va. 1953 until 1962 “I studied from the age of seven, in Virginia, with two well-known Tidewater artists, Jean Craig and the late Allan Jones. The teaching methods of carefully observed studies from nature in charcoal or tempra paint, derived, of course, from the original French academic model, conveyed its impact on my early development; however, my eye and consciousness were mostly activated by the reproductions on the studio wall of works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo.” Gilbert Lewis in Contemporary Philadelphia Artists: A Juried Exhibition, (Philadelphia Museum of Art 2000), p. 145 1963-68 Studies at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with Franklin Watkins, Hobson Pittman, Morris Blackburn, and Walter Stuempfig. While a student at PAFA he shares apartment [261 South 21st Street] with PAFA students, Jody Pinto and Barbara Sosson. In 1967 he receives PAFA’s: Bergman Prize in Painting; M. Herbert Syme Prize; and Samuel Cresson Memorial Travelling Scholarship. The latter award enables Lewis to travel to Europe during the summer of 1967 where he visits museums. “In 1967, after having seen the Italian master’s work while on scholarship from the Pennsylvania Academy, I was to realize my great influences and to discover the earlier Sienese masters whose clarity and energy still move me.” Gilbert Lewis in Contemporary Philadelphia Artists: A Juried Exhibition, (Philadelphia Museum of Art 2000), p. 145 1968 Horizontal painting [of an interior with a seated woman and cat by a large window] reproduced in black and white in school catalog for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 1968-1969, p. 24. Other students whose works are reproduced include Clayton Anderson, Barkley...

Category

1990s Realist Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Red Fox
Red Fox

Red Fox

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original pencil drawing signed by the Artist on the lower right corner.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Pencil

Realist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist art 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 art 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, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Slim Aarons, Michael Budden, Daniel Pollera, and Su Yu. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint 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 art, so small editions measuring 0.1 inches across are also available.