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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
San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf

By Josef Eidenberger

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf" c.1975 is a color etching on Wove paper by noted Austrian artist Josef Eidenberger, 1899-1991. It is hand signed n pencil by th...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Etching

Framed 1930s Realist Oil Painting of Lilies, 50x35.5 cm
Framed 1930s Realist Oil Painting of Lilies, 50x35.5 cm

Framed 1930s Realist Oil Painting of Lilies, 50x35.5 cm

Located in Genève, GE

Work on wood Dimensions with frame : 63.5 x 49 x 3 cm This work of art features a bouquet of lilies elegantly arranged in a clear glass vase. The flowers, delicately painted in shade...

Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"Figures and horses by a country tavern"
"Figures and horses by a country tavern"

"Figures and horses by a country tavern"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Unidentified Dutch Artist (17th Century) "Figures and Horses by a Country Tavern" (1618) Oil on canvas Framed: 69 x 82 cm Canvas: 52 x 64 cm No signatured This exquisite 17th-century Dutch painting masterfully depicts a bustling village scene with figures and horses gathered outside a country tavern. The composition is rich in detail, featuring travelers, merchants, and townspeople engaging in lively interactions, while a Dutch flag waves above the rustic inn, reinforcing the national identity of the scene. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting showcases warm earthy tones and delicate use of light and shadow, capturing the golden glow of a late afternoon or early evening setting. The finely rendered architecture, expressive figures, and atmospheric depth are reminiscent of the works of Isaac van Ostade, Jan Steen, or Adriaen van de Velde...

Category

17th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Antonio and Kleopatra"
"Antonio and Kleopatra"

"Antonio and Kleopatra"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Unidentified Artist – "Antonius and Kleopatra" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (Framed): 91 x 75 cm Dimensions (Flat): 77 x 59 cm Signature: Monogrammed “LE” lower left, indistin...

Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Justin Head Study

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Justin Head Study

By Mark Beard

Located in New York, NY

Oil on canvas Signed in red, u.r. 9 x 8 inches, canvas size 9.5 x 8.5 inches in distressed black painted wood frame This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands by British Artist
Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands by British Artist

Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands by British Artist

By Andrew Grant Kurtis

Located in Preston, GB

Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands with two boys fishing with their dog, by British Artist, Andrew Grant Kurtis M.A.(Lon) B.Des.(Hons) L.S.I.A.D. Art measures 24 x 18 inches Frame measures 27 x 21 inches As an artist of both classical and traditional style, Andrew Grant Kurtis excels in his paintings of english landscape...

Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Quail Lamp (with 7 chicks)
Quail Lamp (with 7 chicks)

Quail Lamp (with 7 chicks)

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. 24/30

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

"The River"
"The River"

"The River"

By Oleksandr Khrapachov

Located in Edinburgh, GB

"River" Alexander Khrapachov's painting ‘River’ is a visual meditation on the passage of time and the primal power of nature. A mountain river, squeezed between trees and rocky bank...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Contemporary portrait "Joshua Tree"
Contemporary portrait "Joshua Tree"

Contemporary portrait "Joshua Tree"

By Nataliya Bagatskaya

Located in Zofingen, AG

This artwork captures a solitary moment in a remote desert setting. The scene focuses on a vintage motel, "Desert Inn," with its bright yellow façade standing out against the dark, m...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

20th century lithograph black and white landscape print trees lake signed
20th century lithograph black and white landscape print trees lake signed

20th century lithograph black and white landscape print trees lake signed

By Adolf Dehn

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Peaceful Cove - New England" is an original lithograph by Adolf Dehn. The artist signed the piece lower right. It depicts an aerial view of New England. 9 1/2" x 13" image 11" x 15" paper 17" x 20 5/8" frame Adolf Dehn was born in Minnesota, November 22, 1895 and he died in New York City, May 19 1968. He was one of the most notable lithographers of the 20th century. Throughout his artistic career, Dehn participated in and helped define some important movements in American art, including Regionalism, Social Realism, and caricature. He was known for both his technical skills and his high-spirited, droll depictions of human foibles. Biography Dehn was born in 1895 in Waterville, Minnesota. Dehn began creating artwork at the age of six and by the time of his death had created nearly 650 images. After high school he went to the Minneapolis School of Art, known today as the (Minneapolis College of Art and Design) where he met Wanda Gág...

Category

1940s Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Evening at the sea"
"Evening at the sea"

"Evening at the sea"

By Oleksandr Khrapachov

Located in Edinburgh, GB

“Evening at Sea” Oil on canvas The golden hour of tranquility: when day turns into evening Alexander Khrapachov captures the most poetic moment of a day at sea—that magical moment wh...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Pair of Terriers, Gianni Reggio (Italian, 1898-1961)
Pair of Terriers, Gianni Reggio (Italian, 1898-1961)

Pair of Terriers, Gianni Reggio (Italian, 1898-1961)

Located in SANTA FE, NM

Pair of Terriers Gianni Reggio (Italian, 1898-1961) Circa 1930s Gouache on paper 15 x 14 inches (frame) Signed on the back. Gianni Reggio was an Italian painter and illustrator wh...

Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Lakeside. 1959, oil on cardboard, 36x49, 5 cm
Lakeside. 1959, oil on cardboard, 36x49, 5 cm

Lakeside. 1959, oil on cardboard, 36x49, 5 cm

By Edgars Vinters

Located in Riga, LV

Lakeside. 1959, oil on cardboard, 36x49,5 cm Summer landscape by the lake Edgars Vinters (1919-2014) Edgars Vinters is working in oil, watercolor and monotype techniques. He paints ...

Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Amalfi Coast, Estate Edition
Amalfi Coast, Estate Edition

Amalfi Coast, Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Windsurfing on the waters off the Amalfi Coast, Italy, in September 1978. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons E...

Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Still Life with Fruit in Basket - Vintage Oil in Ornate Frame by British Artist
Still Life with Fruit in Basket - Vintage Oil in Ornate Frame by British Artist

Still Life with Fruit in Basket - Vintage Oil in Ornate Frame by British Artist

By Roy Hodrien

Located in Preston, GB

Still Life with Fruit in Basket - Vintage Oil in Ornate Frame by British Artist Art measures 12 x 10 inches Frame measures 18.5 x 16.5 inches Roy Hodrien, born in Lancashire in M...

Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Board, Oil, Paint

The Bahamas
The Bahamas

The Bahamas

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A swimming pool, seen through the fronds of a palm tree, with two people swimming and a group of people sitting at tables at the poolside in the Bahamas, May 1967. Beyond the pool is...

Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

The Fog
The Fog

The Fog

By Evgeniy Monahov

Located in Zofingen, AG

Some time ago Evgeniy bet with his good friend that he could paint a painting where about half of it would be pure white primer but painting will look finished anyway. So this story ...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Tempera, Wood Panel

Original Painting of Sweden Norway Fjord Landscape by Danish Landscape Artist
Original Painting of Sweden Norway Fjord Landscape by Danish Landscape Artist

Original Painting of Sweden Norway Fjord Landscape by Danish Landscape Artist

By Jens Christian Bennedsen

Located in Preston, GB

Original Painting of Sweden Norway Fjord Landscape by Danish Landscape Artist. Art measures 27 x 23 inches Frame measures 33 x 29 inches An oil pain...

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Paint, Oil, Cotton Canvas, Canvas

Graffiti Break
Graffiti Break

Griselda FerrandezGraffiti Break

$950Sale Price|83% Off

Graffiti Break

Located in Atlanta, GA

This item is in excellent condition, only shown in a gallery. Griselda Ferrandez was born in the city of Barcelona, a cosmopolitan and open city. From her balcony she could contempla...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Brandenburger Tor, Berlin (Brandenburg Gate, Berlin)
Brandenburger Tor, Berlin (Brandenburg Gate, Berlin)

Brandenburger Tor, Berlin (Brandenburg Gate, Berlin)

By Luigi Kasimir

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Brandenburger Tor, Berlin (Brandenburg Gate, Berlin)". c1930 is a color etching on paper by Austrian artist Luigi Kasimir, 1881-1962. It is hand signed in pencil by the artist at the lower center. The plate mark (image) size is 13 x 16.5 inches, framed size is 23.75 x 27 inches. Custom framed in a wooden ornate gold frame, white beige matting and green color fillet. It is in excellent condition, the artwork is very slightly toned around the plate mark, barely visible. About the artist. Luigi Kasimir was born in 1881 at Pettau, today Ptuj, Slovenia, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. He inherited his talent from his ancestors; his grandfather was a painter and a poet, and his father an officer in the Habsburg army, who later became a professional painter. Kasimir attended the Vienna Academy of Art where he studied under Wilhelm Unger, who introduced him to the technique of the coloured etching, and also to his future wife, the artist Tanna Hoernes.[1] He died in 1962 in Grinzing, a suburb of Vienna.Kasimir was among the first to develop the technique of the coloured etching. Before this, prints were usually hand-coloured with the colour being applied in a casual, haphazard manner. Kasimir would first create a sketch usually in pastel, he then transferred the design on as many as four to six plates, printing one after the other and applying the colour on the plate, all done by hand. Kasimir is mainly famous for his etchings, but he also produced some oil painting, as well as some pastels. One of his favourite genres was the landscape, or veduta. He demonstrated a predisposition street scenes, and tourist landmarks. He depicted places from all over Europe, mainly Italy, Austria, and Germany. He also travelled to the United States to do a series of etchings of famous sights ranging from urban landmarks such as New York City skyscrapers, to natural wonders like Yosemite Valley. Luigi Kasimir’s etchings...

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Etching

The Smell of Us (Hand signed poster)
The Smell of Us (Hand signed poster)

The Smell of Us (Hand signed poster)

By Larry Clark

Located in New York, NY

Larry Clark The Smell of Us (Hand signed poster), 2015 Offset lithograph poster Pencil signed by Larry Clark on the back 10 1/2 × 15 1/2 inches Unframed Limited edition poster; hand ...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Danse Espagnole, Teresa Viera Romero
Danse Espagnole, Teresa Viera Romero

Danse Espagnole, Teresa Viera Romero

By Jean Target 1

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Danse Espagnole" referring to the famous Flamenco dancers, Teresa Viera Romero, is a watercolor, on paper by noted French artist Jean Target, 1910-1997 It is sig...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

COLMAR Signed Wood Engraving, French Village, Little Venice Half-Timbered Houses
COLMAR Signed Wood Engraving, French Village, Little Venice Half-Timbered Houses

COLMAR Signed Wood Engraving, French Village, Little Venice Half-Timbered Houses

By Bernard Brussel-Smith

Located in Union City, NJ

COLMAR is an original wood engraving by the American artist Bernard Brussel-Smith, hand printed in yellow, light blue and black ink. COLMAR depicts a quaint French village scene with...

Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Engraving

Villa Vera
Villa Vera

Villa Vera

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The bar at the Villa Vera Hotel Spa and Racquet Club in Acapulco, January 1968. Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer thi...

Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

C Print

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.