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.
$350Sale Price|81% Off
Passion
Located in Atlanta, GA
Item is in excellent condition and has only been displayed in a gallery setting. Item includes frame; Fernando Ibañez Alcaraz was born in Alcoy, Alicante (Spain) in 1969. Growing ...
Oil, Board
" THE LAST DROP " Charles Schreyvogel (1861-1912) BRONZE SCULPTURE 1903 WESTERN
Located in San Antonio, TX
Charles Schreyvogel (1861-1912) New York / New Jersey Artist Image Size: 12" x 18.50" x 5" Medium: Bronze Sculpture 1903 "The Last Drop" Charles Schreyvogel (1861-1912) New York / Ne...
Bronze
Symphony
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Symphony “Symphony” is a sculptural composition in which form transforms into music, and metal becomes movement frozen in time. The smooth, flowing lines evoke streams of sound spre...
Bronze
STILL LIFE - Hyper - Realistic - Oil on Canvas Italian Painting
Located in Napoli, IT
Stil life Maximilian Ciccone Italia 2011 Oil on canvas mis. cm. 60x90. This oil on canvas painting is an incredible example of the artist's ability to capture breathtaking detail a...
Canvas, Oil
$3,400Sale Price|38% Off
"The Lily Pond" by Sheri Farabaugh– Painting, Serene Pondscape
Located in Denver, CO
"The Lily Pond" by Sheri Farabaugh is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 24 x 36 x 2.50 inches, presented in an elegant frame sized at 25.50 x 37.50 x 3 inches. Ready to hang, this...
Canvas, Oil
Minimal Triptych of Calm Costa Rica Shore, Handmade Cyanotype on Paper, Blue
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...
Paper, Monotype
$2,800Sale Price|37% Off
Prayer Rug 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
A Modern realist “trompe l’oeil” egg tempera painting by American female artist Catherine Catanzaro Koenig depicting a person curled up titled “Prayer Rug #1″. Catherine C. Koenig was born Caterina Catanzaro in 1921 and grew up on the West side of Buffalo, NY. She graduated from Lafayette High School Buffalo in 1939. She exhibited a talent for drawing and painting early on and attended Albright Art School, where she graduated with an Associate's Degree in 1942. Her professional career as an artist began in the 1940s when she started to exhibit her work. From 1946-1956, she taught drawing and painting at the Art Institute of Buffalo. She married Buffalo artist...
Board, Egg Tempera, Tempera, Wood
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Beach Path & Ocean Impressionistic Seascape Oil Painting by Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Beach Path II oil/panel 11 x 14 image unframed, 17.38 x 20.38 framed Signed LL Beach Path II is an oil painting on canvas by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that sho...
Oil
$350
"Presque Isle (Day 113), June 7, 2024" by Primary Hughes, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Presque Isle (Day 113), June 7, 2024" by Primary Hughes (United States) is a handmade landscape painting that is created on location or en plein air. The piece is framed, and ready ...
Oil
Quail Bird Watercolor on Paper Handmade Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
457 Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan, Work: Original Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Watercolor on Paper Year: 2025 Style: Classic Art Title: Quail Size: 12 x 16 inch, ...
Paper, Watercolor
Mouse Seeking Butterfly- original realist oil painting-contemporary wildlife 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...
Wood, Oil
"The Peace of Evening Gold" - Original Western Landscape Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Andrzej Skorut's "The Peace of Evening Gold" is an impressive landscape oil painting piece which rests at 36 x 36 inches on stretched canvas and is ready to hang. Biography and Arti...
Canvas, Oil
$2,200
Hyperrealist Countryside Landscape Gouache Painting by Harry Bennett
By Harry Bennett
Located in Atlanta, GA
American artist Harry Bennett designed this stunning gouache painting on cardboard. This early hyperrealist design features a church or school in the middle of nowhere in the country...
Gouache, Cardboard
W . THORNLEY OIL PAINTING 19th CENTURY Gold Gilt Frame
Located in Ferndown, GB
OIL PAINTING 19th CENTURY SHORE SCENE 19th Century Good condition on Canvas .. Piece has been professional cleaned Frame is in Good condition for age (see pictures) Descriptio...
Oil
![[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Michael Hunting](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-michael-hunting-for-sale/a_9323/a_28833811527267299402/Beard_Sargeant_Michael_Hunting_with_frame_980_master.jpg?width=240)
[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Michael Hunting
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas Signed in red, u.r. 14 x 11 inches, canvas size 14.5 x 11.5 inches in distressed gold leaf frame This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “Bruc...
Canvas, Oil
Venice at Dusk, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The artwork captures the quiet majesty and solemn atmosphere of Venice. The church bells seem to linger in the air, while the fading light glides across the wat...
Oil
$1,098
Morning Harvest. Still-life, Oil. Abstract Realism, Yellow, Orange, Red, Small
Located in Oslo, NO
We are presented with a small still life depicting a basket of ripe fruits bathed in the morning sun. Bright light filters through the curtain, highlighting the upcoming sultry summ...
Canvas, Oil, Board
"Doorway" Ken Davies, Realist House Porch Architecture
Located in New York, NY
Ken Davies Doorway, circa 1970 Signed lower left Oil on board 11 x 15 inches Provenance: The Heritage Gallery Inc., Columbus, Ohio, 1975 Private Collection, Columbus Acquired from the estate of the above Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Kenneth Davies...
Oil, Board
Jacob Binder Signed 1937 Signed American Realist Handsome Male Portrait Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American realist portrait oil painting by Jacob Binder (1887 - 1984). Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring: 47 by 41 inches overall, and 42 by...
Oil
Renevier Julien (1847-1907), Oil on canvas+ The wool spinner
Located in Gent, VOV
"The Wool Spinner", a stunning 19th-century oil on canvas painting by renowned artist Renevier Julien, captures the essence of rural life. This exquisite piece depicts a woman deeply...
Oil
Antique American Super Realist Trompe L'Oeil Framed Signed Still Life Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early American super realist trompe l'oeil still life oil painting. Framed. Oil on canvas, lain to board. Signed. Image size, 14H by 10L.
Canvas, Oil
$2,287Sale Price|20% Off
Woman in a Sunlit Italian Courtyard, Oil on Wood, Mid-19th Century
Located in Genève, GE
Dimension with frame : 36,5 x 28,5 x 4,5 cm. A charming 19th-century Italian oil study attributed to Silvestro Lega (1826–1895), depicting a woman seen from behind in a rustic sunli...
Oil, Wood Panel
$1,020Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American School Trompe L'Oeil Artist Studio Interior Scene Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderfully painted American modernist still life oil painting. Framed. Oil on canvas. Image size, 24H by 20L. Finely executed realist school.
Canvas, Oil
'La tartine au fromage blanc' ('The open slice with cottage cheese')
Located in Paris, FR
COCQ Suzanne 'La tartine au fromage blanc' ('The slice with cottage cheese') Gouache. Signed and dated 1929. Suzanne Cocq (1894–1979) Suzanne Cocq was a Belgian painter, watercolori...
Gouache
Portrait of Lillian Gardiner Mrs Jack Allen British Edwardian art oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This superb British portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson and is dateable to 1913. The sitter is Lillian Gardiner ( Mrs ...
Oil
Still life with apples and dragonfly
Located in Zofingen, AG
Experience the vibrant freshness of "Still life with apples and dragonfly," an original oil painting on linen. This medium-sized artwork captures a delightful scene from a unique bi...
Canvas, Oil
$3,279
Tidal Whisper II-original Contemporary realism seascape oil on canvas painting
Located in London, Chelsea
Gallery service: Complimentary worldwide shipping is offered, with Signet Contemporary Art covering all tariffs, customs duties and import taxes, making international collecting simp...
Canvas, Oil
$2,059Sale Price|25% Off
París Oil on Canvas Painting, Contemporary Neo-Impressionism, 1990s
By Josep Maria Vayreda Canadell
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title of the Artwork: Alineació, París Artist: Josep Maria Vayreda Canadell Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions without frame: 16.1 x 13 inches Dimensions with frame: 22.8 x 19.7 inc...
Canvas, Oil
Peaceful Venetian Canal Scenes in a Pair of Mid 20th-C. Paintings
Located in San Francisco, CA
This pair of timeless scenes of Venice are both by Venetian painter, Luigi Zugolo, who, according to Italy’s Ministry of Culture, was working in the early 20th century. Would we call...
Canvas, Oil
Lost to Time, Original Painting
By Art Clark
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A weathered yellow cottage with a red roof stands alone on the prairie, surrounded by wildflowers and a rustic fence. Dark clouds gather overhead, adding a se...
Acrylic
$1,487Sale Price|50% Off
Study of a Pointer Running by Léon Espinasse (French 19th/20th)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Study of a Pointer Running" Léon Espinasse (French, c. 1870 to 20th century) Watercolor on paper Signed on right 15 x 11 1/2 (28 1/4 x 23 1/2 frame) inches A stunning exercise in ...
Watercolor, Paper
$350
"Los Angeles II" By Ed Fairburn, Limited Edition Poster Print, Portrait of Woman
By Ed Fairburn
Located in Denver, CO
"Las Angeles II" is a limited edition poster print by the acclaimed UK artist Ed Fairburn. This captivating piece is reproduced onto 100% 290gsm cotton rag premium archival Moab pape...
Paper, Archival Pigment
Kira. Girl. Oil. Small. Child. Black and white. Beauty. Simple. Contrast
Located in Oslo, NO
A haunting black-and-white portrait captures a five-year-old girl in profile, her face completely concealed beneath a neat bob that falls forward. She wears a striped pullover, addin...
Paper, Oil
$3,000Sale Price|70% Off
Rattlesnake
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Rattlesnake , ca. 1950 Carved pink Texas granite 13.5" wide, 13" deep, height is 7" Repair and conservation to uppermost part of snake's body. Provena...
Granite
Summer Bouquet Oil On Canvas
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Summer Bouquet 2022 Still Life oil on canvas, artist signed lower right framed. Zbigniew Kopania, artist painter, cinematographer, born December 21, 1949, in Łódź Poland. Kopania sty...
Oil, Canvas
Mae West Diamond Lil Broadway Costume Design Illustration
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Fabulous illustration depicts a costume for Mae West in Broadway production of Diamond Lil, 1951.. Gouache on illustration board, image measures 10.5 x 16.5 inches; 15 x 22 inches ...
Gouache, Illustration Board
Distant Echoes, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Bathed in quiet light, a weathered farmhouse radiates a sense of history and solitude. The faded clapboard siding, rusted tin roof, and simple lines stand resil...
Watercolor
Hydrangea Flowers Bouquet, Impressionist Oil on Canvas, 25x25cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
Hydrangea Flowers - Floral Harmony – Original Oil Painting on Canvas by Olga Nikitina Hydrangea Painting is an original oil painting by Olga Nikitina, created with a palette knife i...
Oil, Canvas
After the Rain...
Located in Zofingen, AG
The quiet after a recent rain sets the stage, revealing a tranquil landscape. A vintage convertible and a solitary figure by an ice machine evoke a nostalgic, timeless scene. This ar...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Narcissus. Original Oil Painting with Flowers by Irina Trushkova
Located in Zofingen, AG
These stunning spring narcissus are placed in a transparent vase. The bright yellow flowers create a vivid color contrast against the silvery blue background focusing the viewer's ey...
Canvas, Oil, Lacquer
$686Sale Price|20% Off
Landscape 1965. Paper, watercolor, 38x53 cm
By Janis Brekte
Located in Riga, LV
Landscape 1965. Paper, watercolor, 38x53 cm Through the use of watercolors on paper, the artist has created a picturesque and emotive portrayal of the landscape, inviting viewers t...
Paper, Watercolor
FRANCOIS VAN SEVERDOCK. Portrait of Eugène de Zereso de Cejada. Oil on panel
By Francois Van Severdonck
Located in Paris, FR
Portrait of Eugène de Zereso de Cejada. Oil on mahogany panel. Eugène de Zereso de Cejada was a Belgian politician and Baron.
Oil
Exotic 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: 2026 Style: Classic Art Title: Exotic Bird Size: 12 x 16 inch, ...
Paper, Watercolor
Solitude in Snow, Original Painting
By Vic Roschkov
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A quiet winter stillness settles over the countryside. A massive evergreen stands sentinel beside a solitary house, framing the scene in profound silence. Paral...
Watercolor
$9,800Sale Price|21% Off
Emergence, Woman in Floral Robe, Oil on Panel with Gold and Silver Leaf
Located in Denver, CO
“Emergence” is a contemporary figurative oil painting from 2019, created on panel with white gold and silver leaf. The composition depicts a woman viewed from behind, her arms extended and her face turned upward. Her black floral...
Silver, Gold Leaf
$2,380Sale Price|20% Off
Part of the Portico of Edfou, Egypt: Original 19th C. Lithograph by D. Roberts
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century duotone lithograph entitled "Part of the Portico of Edfou" by David Roberts, from his Egypt and Nubia volumes of the large folio edition, published i...
Lithograph
Monte Carlo, Monaco, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1970s landscape photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features friends boarding a riva boat in Monte Carlo, Monaco, This is an estate stamped and hand n...
Lambda
$6,000
Crime Romance Noir Pulp Fiction Cover Illustration for If Hate Could Kill
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Raymond Johnson (1915-1997). Cover Illustration for If Hate Could Kill, 1960. Gouache on illustration board, image measures 13 x 21 inches. Illustration board measuring 19.5 x 26 ...
Gouache, Illustration Board
Émile Louis Vernier (1829-1887), a beachcomber, oil on canvas Barbizon School
Located in Berlin, DE
Émile Louis Vernier (1829-1887), a beachcomber, oil on canvas Signed to the bottom left corner. Frame: 77 x 103 cm Émile Louis Vernier (1829–1887) was a French painter and lithog...
Oil
$759Sale Price|20% Off
Mountain Lake Landscape of County Donegal Northern Ireland Vintage Irish Art
Located in Preston, GB
Mountain Lake Landscape of County Donegal Northern Ireland Vintage Irish Art, by Irish Artist, D Dale. Art measures 14 x 10 inches Frame measure...
Oil, Board
'River Landscape' by Ludwig Knaus; Framed 22" x 20.5" Oil on Board, 19th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 20.5" x 22" river landscape by German artist Ludwig Knaus features a mature tree stretching out over a calm body of water on a clear day. Knaus portrays sunlight and shad...
Oil, Board
Blue 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: 2026 Style: Classic Art Title: Blue Bird Size: 12 x 16 inch, (...
Paper, Watercolor
Rare 19th Century Russian Oil Portrait Bearded Man with Staff Signed Gilt Frame
Located in Stockholm, SE
RARE museum-quality example of a 19th‑century Russian plein‑air oil study on canvas, executed with swift, confident brushstrokes by the skilled hand of a masterful artist. The tall f...
Canvas, Wood, Oil, Cardboard
Vintage Mid-century Puerto Rico Christmas Poster
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Antonio Maldonado (1920-2006) Felicidades 1965 Artista: Antonio Maldonado Manatí, Puerto Rico, 1920- San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2006 Date 1965 Medium: serigraph Dimensions:24 5/8 x 17 3...
Screen
"Big Catch" - Original Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Denver, CO
"Big Catch" by Robert C. Jackson is an original handmade oil still life painting on canvas that depicts an abstracted scene. This piece measures 22 x 18 inches and is framed and read...
Canvas, Oil
"Galantes Paar" by Henri Druard - Oil on Canvas - 100x81 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Artwork sold with frame (100 x 120 x 7.5 cm) Henri Druard (1821–1877) was a French painter known for his genre scenes and depictions of everyday life in 19th-century France. Born in...
Canvas, Oil
$3,826
Underworld - original surrealism still life realism oil painting, wildlife Art
Located in London, Chelsea
Gallery service: Complimentary worldwide shipping is offered, with Signet Contemporary Art covering all tariffs, customs duties and import taxes, making international collecting simp...
Canvas, Oil
Portrait of an Edwardian Lady - British American art portrait oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This lovely British Edwardian portrait oil painting is attributed to circle of John Singer Sargent. Sargent was born in America then trained in Paris before coming to London. Painted...
Oil
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Beach & Ocean Impressionistic Seascape Oil Painting with Dunes by Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Dunes & Beach Path 11 x 14 unframed and 16.5 x 19.5 framed signed LL Dunes & Beach Path is an oil painting on panel by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases...
Oil
Flower Market at Rockford Tower
Located in Greenville, DE
Wonderful representation of historic Delaware scene. 29.5" x 35.5" framed Signed lower right
Canvas, Oil