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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.

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Style: Realist
Serenity at Dawn - beautiful misty morning at a River in the English Countryside
Located in Preston, GB
Serenity at Dawn - a beautiful misty morning at a River in the English Countryside by 20th Century British Artist, Spencer Coleman. Unique Vintage Original, Oil on Canvas, Signed. A...
Category

1990s Realist Art

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Cotton, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

Down Time
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Inscribed/signed by the Artist on the bottom portion of the bronze piece with an edition number. 17/30
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

Out Of The Way - original modern impressionism cityscape London painting-Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. David Wilson’s Out Of The Way captures a rainy evening in the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Antique American Painting Boston Hills Massachusetts Harold B. Warren 1901
Located in Buffalo, NY
A gorgeous light-filled and highly detailed antique watercolor painting by English American artist Harold B. Warren. Harold Broadfield Warren was a landscape painter, illustrator, a...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

"Venetian Harbor Scene"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Venetian Harbor Scene Artist: Karl Kaufmann (Austrian, 1843–1902) Date: Late 19th century Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: Framed: 40 × 72 cm Unframed (sight): 34 × 63 cm Signature:...
Category

Early 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Winter Gulls Original Landscape Oil Painting by 20th Century British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Winter Gulls Original Landscape Oil Painting by 20th Century British Artist, Walter Robin Jennings. W R Jennings has exhibited in London, Paris & New York...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Scottish Highlands scene with golden light and tranquil mountain lake view
Located in Preston, GB
Scottish Highlands scene with golden light and tranquil mountain lake view by British Artist, Andrew Grant Kurtis M.A.(Lon) B.Des.(Hons) L.S.I.A.D. Art measures 30 x 20 inches Frame...
Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Purple Drops - original realism still life oil painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is framed & currently available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery. With its moody elegance and striking composition, Purple Drops invites the vie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Nude Oil Female Figures Women Realism Expressionism Contemporary Sensual Signed
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Sauna" is an original oil painting on canvas signed by the artist Alicia Czechowski. It depicts six nude female figures lounging in a sauna. These figures have a wide variety of...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Mt Lyell Clouds, Yosemite - Black & White California Landscape Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
Elegant hand signed black & white photo highlighting the sharp contrast between the Yosemite mountain range of Mt. Lyell and the beautiful clouds above by Charles Cramer (American, b...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Winter Mist at a Farm in the English Countryside by 20th Century British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Winter Mist at a Farm in the English Countryside by 20th Century British Artist, Wendy Reeves Art measures 40 x 20 inches Frame measures 46 x 26 inches (framed in a high quality ornate gold moulding) Wendy Reeves garnered acclaim for her Scottish Highland and Lakeland paintings. Born in 1944 in Ewell, Surrey, she took to her father Gordon’s craft, deciding early on that she would be a painter. Prior to her famous paintings of the British Isles, artist Wendy Reeves painted scenes from a trip she made to Spain when she was 21. It was during this time that her dream of following in her father’s footsteps became a reality, and when she returned to England she cemented her name as an artist. Wendy Reeves' paintings showcase her talent with natural landscapes and the wildlife that inhabits them. Her work often features ochre and pink lights...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mykonos, Greece II
By Jean Claude Carsuzan
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "Mykonos, Greece II" c.1990 is an original color lithograph by noted French artist Jean Claude Carsuzan b. 1938. It is hand signed and numbered 116/150 in pencil by the artist. The image size is 10.25 x 14.25 inches, framed is 18.25 x 22.25 inches. It is custom framed in a wooden gold frame. The artwork is in excellent condition, the frame has some scratches. It will be replaced by a new similar one before shipping, which will bring the condition to excellent. About the artist: Jean Claude Carsuzan was born in Bordeaux, France in 1938. France. Hi interest for art began at an early age. He Attended the Bordeaux Art...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Original Oil Painting of Beach Scene at Fairhead Ireland by Modern Irish Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Original Oil Painting of Beach Scene with Figures at Fairhead Ireland by Modern Irish Artist Artist William Henry Burns (1924-1995) Art meas...
Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Perennials - colorful, vivid, detail, realist, floral, landscape, oil on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
In stunning detail, Ciba Karisik has captured the delicate and serene beauty of pink coneflower and white Queen Anne’s lace flowers lining the edge of a grassy field. For Karisik, na...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Antique Painting Plethora of Ripe Raspberries in Fruit Basket signed Bohner
Located in Buffalo, NY
Original frame to the painting. Dramatic highlights and shadows.
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"Steady Hand" (2024) by Sheri Farabaugh, Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Steady Hand" (2024) by Sheri Farabaugh (United States Based) is a beautiful handmade still life oil painting that depicts a father helping his son across river stones. Sheri Farab...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Painting of Church in Cornwall on the English South Coast with Figures & Boats
Located in Preston, GB
Painting of Church in Cornwall on the English South Coast with Figures & Boats by British Artist, Michael Kerris (1934-2024) Art measures 32 x 16 inches Frame measures 37.5 x 21.5...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

31. Keel-tail iguana, Holbrookia spec., Surinam ameiva, Gecko
Located in Columbia, MO
Maria Sibylla Merian was born in Germany in 1647 and received early artistic training from her stepfather, an established still life painter. She was fascinated by insects and collec...
Category

18th Century Realist Art

Materials

Pigment

Catch Up By the Pool Estate Edition, Modernist Architecture, Palm Springs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Palm Springs, 1970: This coveted photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features midcentury socialites in front of the turquoise swimming pool of the iconic Kaufma...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Grace Jones for After Dark
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Victor Arimondi (1942-2001). Portrait of Grace Jones, 1975. Period print measures 8.5 x 11.25 inches; 10 x 13 inches framed. Artist studio stamp on ver...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

'Bal Masque, Venice', Venetian Vedute, Santa Maria della Salute, Masquerade, Oil
By Evgeny & Lydia Baranov
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Е. Баранов, Л. Величко' for Evgeny and Lydia Barnov (Russian-American, 20th century) and dated 2006. Titled, verso, on label, 'Traveling through Time'. Born in...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

A ballerina black swan
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this oil painting, I poured my reverence for grace and strength into every stroke, capturing the poised elegance of a ballerina in a moment of serene concentration. The c...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Claudio D'Angelo, "Fox in Fresh Snow", 11x14 Winter Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
This piece, "Fox in Fresh Snow", is a 11x14 winter landscape oil panting on canvas by artist Claudio D'Angelo. Featured is a bright red fox stand...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Pocket Cabbage and Pocket Peas In A Pod Diptych, Original Painting, Veggies
Located in Deddington, GB
This is a diptych of Pocket Cabbage and Pocket Peas In A Pod. Please note that the sizes are different Pocket Cabbage is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of he...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Delft Frog 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Sculpture with Gold Crown, 2025
Located in Denver, CO
Nana Williams' "Delft Frog 2" is a striking, hand-painted resin sculpture measuring 1.50 x 1.25 x 2 inches (3.81 x 3.18 x 5.08 cm). This exquisite piece combines intricate blue flora...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

NASA, Apollo 9 Space Mission Series, Lowell Nesbitt - Painting
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Lowell Nesbitt (1933-1993) Title: NASA, Apollo 9 Space Mission Series Year: 1970 Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 26 x 18 inches Inscription: Signed, dated by the artist, verso No...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Pathway to the Past, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A rustic blue cottage, weathered by time, nestles among vibrant wildflowers. It was once the home of a widow who lost her loving hus...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Skiing In Vail, Colorado, Estate Edition, Winter Landscape Photograph
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 1660s winter landscape photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features skiers pass by a snow covered tree in Vail, Colorado, USA, 1964. This is an esta...
Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

New York City Oil Painting Michael Budden 5th Avenue Winter Cartier
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Winter Window Shopping, Cartier oil/linen 16 x 20 unframed, 23.88 x 27.88 framed. Winter Window Shopping, Cartier is an oil painting on canvas panel by award winning contemporary ar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Golden Hour, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
The sea exudes an atmosphere of comfort and peace at sunset. The water mirrors the glorious colors of the sky, creating a captivating display of light. The re...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Antique Oil Painting of Soldiers and Woman on the Street
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique oil painting of soldiers and woman on the street. Oil on board. Framed.
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Desert House Party, Estate Edition From the Poolside Series, Palm Springs
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

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

"Autumn Orange Leaves" (2024) By David Grossmann, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
David Grossman's (US based) "Autumn Orange Leaves" is an oil on linen panel created in 2024 depicting an abstracted birch forest in autumn. About the artist: David Grossmann’s evoc...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil, Panel

Elegance in Contemplation
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting depicts an elegant horse with a focus on its head and neck. The horse has a smooth, glossy brown coat that contrasts beautifully with the warm golden background. Its po...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Ventura River Channel; Santa Ana Road, Ojai Valley
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist UNFRAMED: 24" x 30" FRAMED: 30.75" x 36.625" x 1.5" Artist Statement "The dramatic Scenery surrounding Ojai and the coastal range made for some tough choices as to what to paint. Add to that, the changing light throughout the day and the marine layer coming and going, made options even greater. I have always been attracted to waterways when scouting for paintings. This scene overlooking the Ventura River deeply spoke to me as a big fan of the geology and plant life of the Ojai Valley." — Ray Roberts
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil, Panel

Tall Vase
Located in Burlingame, CA
The charm of Still Life painting for the artist lies in the ability to manipulate ones subject matter and in the intimate, direct nature of the painting process. It is very much a st...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Big dragonfly. Paper, mixed media, 21x30 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Big dragonfly Paper, mixed media, 21x30 cm Juris Utāns (1959-2022) was a Latvian painter. Worked in the field of critical realism, socially active and political art. Juris Utans' ...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Mixed Media

"SCOUTS" NATIVE AMERICAN, INDIAN, 47 X 37 FRAMED NICE!!!
Located in San Antonio, TX
E. Salazar Texas Artist Image Size: 40 x 30 Frame Size: 47 x 38 Medium: Oil on Canvas "Scouts"
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"Pastoral Landscape with Shepherd and Sheep"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Unidentified Artist (19th Century) "Pastoral Landscape with Shepherd and Sheep" (1860) This idyllic 19th-century oil painting on canvas beautifully...
Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still Life With Oranges In The Basket
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Still Life with Oranges in the basket at night, framed. RAFAEL SALDARRIAGA was born in Medellin, Colombia in 1955. Arrived in the United States in 1993. After living in New Mexico a...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique Oil Painting on canvas Still Life, books, candle, Signed Azuquita Framed
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This painting is a still-life composition featuring an arrangement of books and other objects on a table. The focal point is an open book, its pages splayed out as if it was recently...
Category

Early 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"King of the Barn"-Farmyard Rooster 19th century France
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"King of the Barn"-Farmyard Rooster 19th century France Oil on board Signature to be read 18 x 15 (19 3/4 x 23 3/4 frame) inches A very finely painted and expressive rendition of a...
Category

1890s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

The Feast, from the suite les Bohemiens
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Jacques Callot (French, 1592-1635) Title: The Feast, from the suite, les Bohemiens Year: 1620 Medium: Etching Paper: Laid paper Size of image: 4.65 x 9.15 inches Signature: S...
Category

17th Century Realist Art

Materials

Etching

"Northeastern Sunset" bright hyperrealistic reflective seascape oil painting
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Northeastern Sunset" is a bright hyperrealistic reflective seascape of the Atlantic Ocean on an East Coast beach. Minoff masterfully depicts the textures of the ocean as it approaches shore in this realist portrait of the sea. Framed in a traditional white gold frame. Painting dimensions: 10 x 16 inches Framed dimensions: 15 x 21 inches Artist Bio: Edward Minoff Graduated with honors from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Throughout his high school and college years he studied painting and sculpture at the Art Students League of New York, The National Academy School of Design, and later at Vassar College...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil, Panel

Untitled (Man Reading Newspaper)
Located in New York, NY
Conté crayon on paper Signed, l.r. This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Mark Beard, born in 1956 in Salt Lake City, now lives in New York City. His works ...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Conté

Ballet Espagnol, Pilar Lopez
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Ballet Espagnol Pilar Lopez" c.1955 referring to the famous Spanish Flamenco dancer, Pilar Lopez, 1912-2008 is a pastel and crayon on paper by noted French artis...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Impasto Oil Painting of River Tree Scene British Postwar & Contemporary Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Impasto Oil Painting of River Tree Scene British Postwar & Contemporary Artist, Terry Evans Terry Evans is a British Postwar & Contemporary Painte...
Category

1990s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

Male Nude. Charcoal Drawing
Located in Brecon, Powys
Really well executed male study Charcoal on paper. Matted Drawing in good order Image 25" x 18". matted 33" x 25"
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Charcoal

Steve McCurry 'Afghan Girl'
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 Art

Materials

C Print

Alta, Utah vintage 1970s skiing poster
Located in London, GB
To see our other original vintage posters, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller." Alta Original vintage poster 67 x 53 cm Printed ...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Spring Bulbs
Located in London, GB
Image dimensions: 61cm x 92cm Framed dimensions: 75.5cm x 106cm This beautiful original oil painting by Paul S. Brown depicts a still life of spring bulbs amongst plant pots and del...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

Strawberries in a Cup - original still life painting - contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. This elegantly framed artwork transforms an everyday moment in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Realistic Wildlife Landscape Painting of Wood Ducks Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
An "AWARD WINNING" acrylic painting on panel by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases a gorgeous pair of Wood Ducks in their natural environment created in ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Daffodils Oil on Canvas Floral Italy Still-life nature
Located in Houston, TX
Daffodils by Melissa Franklin Sanchez is an Oil on Canvas Painting. Looking closely at Daffodils by Mellissa F. Sanchez you will notice the background with objects. There is pot...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Kumasaka Chōhan to Ushiwakamaru - One of a Diptych Original Woodcut Print
Located in Soquel, CA
Kumasaka Chōhan to Ushiwakamaru is a Japanese Ukiyo-e print created between 1848 and 1854 by artist Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786-1864). The print is a Diptych, and is part of the...
Category

1850s Realist Art

Materials

Printer's Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

American School Signed Trompe L'Oeil Nude Woman Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Very nicely painted American school modernist painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Nicely framed. Image size, 16L x 20H.
Category

1940s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sheep by an Idyllic Tree Lined River Landscape in Ireland by Modern Irish Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Sheep by an Idyllic Tree Lined River Landscape in Ireland by Modern 20th Century Irish Artist, Frank Fitzsimons Art measures 18 x 14 inches Frame measure 21.5 x 17.5 inches Frank Fitzsimons was born in Antrim but grew up in Bangor, Co Down in the 1930’s. Fitzsimons joined the Belfast Art Club where he painted with Maurice Canning Wilks...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

RAMZES and OLGA . original painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this oil painting, I sought to blend realism with impressionistic touches to capture a quietly intimate moment between a woman and a cat. Her enigmatic gaze and the soft, tactile ...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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.

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