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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
Black Pearl Trippers, Estate Edition, North Shore, Massachusetts
Black Pearl Trippers, Estate Edition, North Shore, Massachusetts

Black Pearl Trippers, Estate Edition, North Shore, Massachusetts

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Henry B. Cabot Jr. (standing, centre) with his son Henry Bromfield Cabot III and their host Barclay (Buzzy) H Warburton III (in striped shirt) aboard the brigantine 'Black Pearl', circa 1959. They are sailing off North Shore, Boston, around Manchester and Marblehead harbors, Essex County, Massachusetts. 40 x 40 inches $3950 30 x 30 inches $3350 24 x 24 inches $3000 Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer this vibrant photograph, printed by the Slim Aarons estate. It is part of the estate's only official limited run, of 150. Estate stamp embossed on recto, hand numbered in ink on recto, with certificate of authenticity from the estate (not a secondary gallery licensing from the estate). Increasingly heralded for his influence, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) made a career out of photographing "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." Aarons is known for his iconic images of Hollywood glamour and luxurious people, places and lifestyles. Undercurrent Projects offers premium quality photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Getty Images Gallery, London. Photographs are printed utilizing the original transparency held at the archive source. Aarons began his career as a combat photographer in World War II. Though he earned a Purple Heart for his service, he declared that combat had taught him that the only beach worth landing on was decorated with beautiful people enjoying themselves in the sun. Slim Aarons is noted for his documentation of the Beautiful People over 50 years, encompassing high society, celebrity, aristocracy, and the jet set. He was born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed official photographer at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During World War II he served as an army combat photographer for Yank magazine in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. After the war he became a freelance photojournalist, first based in Hollywood, then Rome, then New York. His photographs appeared in many magazines, including Life, Holiday, Town & Country, Look, Venture, and Travel & Leisure. His first book A Wonderful Time (1974) is considered a classic. * We are pleased to represent the entire archive of the Slim Aarons Estate, offering the official Slim Aarons Estate Edition (only offered in this edition of 150). Please contact us for additional photographs from Slim Aarons * Slide show includes a close-up of the Slim Aarons estate's stamp. The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints ("giclee"). Lambda printing gives true continuous tone Internal: Curated sales include vintage sailing photography...

Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Shadow Patterns and Lost Thistle
Shadow Patterns and Lost Thistle

Shadow Patterns and Lost Thistle

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original Oil painting signed by the Artist in the lower right corner.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

A noble bulldog

A noble bulldog

Located in London, GB

Walter Herbert Wheeler (British, 1868-1960) A noble bulldog signed ‘WH Wheeler (lower right) oil on board 7 ¾ x 7 ¼ in. (19.7 x 18.3 cm.) with frame 10 x 9 ¾ in. (25.4 x 24.8 cm.) ...

Category

Early 1900s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

"River landscape"
"River landscape"

"River landscape"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Cochin de Venise (Italy, 1622 - 1695) "River Landscape" Oil on Canvas Framed: 116 x 146 cm Flat: 97 x 128 cm No signatured This magnificent landscape painting, attributed to the Ven...

Category

17th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Top Notch

Top Notch

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original bronze sculpture by artist Stefan Savides. Edition 30/35.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

Slim Aarons 'Sports Car Couple' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
Slim Aarons 'Sports Car Couple' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Slim Aarons 'Sports Car Couple' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1955: John Bryant with his AC sports car in Kinnerton Place, London SW1, Printed Later. His passenger is Margaret McAulay. 40 x 40 inches $3950 30 x 30 inches $3350 20 x 20 inches $3000 Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Undercurrent Projects is pleased to offer this vibrant photograph, printed by the Slim Aarons estate. It is part of the estate's only official limited run, of 150. Estate stamp embossed on recto, hand numbered in ink on recto, with certificate of authenticity from the estate (not a secondary gallery licensing from the estate). Increasingly heralded for his influence, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) made a career out of photographing "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." Aarons is known for his iconic images of Hollywood glamour and luxurious people, places and lifestyles. Undercurrent Projects offers premium quality photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Getty Images Gallery, London. Photographs are printed utilizing the original transparency held at the archive source. Aarons began his career as a combat photographer in World War II. Though he earned a Purple Heart for his service, he declared that combat had taught him that the only beach worth landing on was decorated with beautiful people enjoying themselves in the sun. Slim Aarons is noted for his documentation of the Beautiful People over 50 years, encompassing high society, celebrity, aristocracy, and the jet set. He was born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed official photographer at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During World War II he served as an army combat photographer for Yank magazine in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. After the war he became a freelance photojournalist, first based in Hollywood, then Rome, then New York. His photographs appeared in many magazines, including Life, Holiday, Town & Country, Look, Venture, and Travel & Leisure. His first book A Wonderful Time (1974) is considered a classic. * We are pleased to offer the entire archive of the Slim Aarons Estate, offering the official Slim Aarons Estate Edition (only offered in this edition of 150). Please contact us for additional photographs from Slim Aarons * Slide show includes a close-up of the Slim Aarons estate's stamp. The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints. Lambda printing gives true continuous tone. Internal: Slim Aarons Vintage Sport, Vintage Car photography, Sports Car Photography

Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

The Pool of London - 20th Century British marine watercolour by William Walcot
The Pool of London - 20th Century British marine watercolour by William Walcot

The Pool of London - 20th Century British marine watercolour by William Walcot

WILLIAM WALCOT (1874-1943) The Pool of London Signed and dated l.r.: W Walcot 1924 Watercolour and bodycolour over traces of pencil on paper Framed 40.5 by 71.5 cm., 16 by 28 ¼ i...

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

Emotions and Fiction
Emotions and Fiction

Emotions and Fiction

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Life is a sweet journey with errors, mistakes, failures, happiness, success, pains, joy, love, and the list goes on. But you are the most important person to yourself in this world if you want to be life has taught us how we expected and unexpectedly it to be but still life is life. Your emotions are ways to which you can accept or respond to a situation and as humans, we all have emotions that react differently according to the situation at hand, whether good or bad we tend to react About Artist Ariyo Adeyemi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Ballpoint Pen

"A moment in history"
"A moment in history"

"A moment in history"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Printed in the catalog “Dubno Castle” 2014 # “A Moment in History” — Dialogue with the past through the prism of the present ## Alexander Khrapachov, 2014 Canvas, oil, 50×70 cm --- ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mid Century Horse in Winter Landscape
Mid Century Horse in Winter Landscape

Mid Century Horse in Winter Landscape

By William Ernest Smyth

Located in Soquel, CA

Charming mid century watercolor painting of a horse in winter with a barn in the background by Ernest Smythe (American/England 1881-1950). Signed "ERNEST SMYTHE" in lower left corner. Presented in a tan mat with a wood frame and glass. Image size: 25"H x 19.75"W As William Ernest Smyth, he was born at 13 Commercial Road, Ipswich on 9 April 1874 but was not baptised at St Michael's, Ipswich until 23 October 1885, when his birth date is given as 17 February 1874, youngest son of artist Thomas Smythe...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor, Illustration Board

"Early spring"
"Early spring"

"Early spring"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

The beauty of the sunset landscape is always fascinating. Early spring, thawed patches on the ice and the remains of snow. The air is calm, completely calm. The sun goes down beyond ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Purple irises. 1998, canvas, oil, 35x25 cm
Purple irises. 1998, canvas, oil, 35x25 cm

Purple irises. 1998, canvas, oil, 35x25 cm

Located in Riga, LV

Purple irises. 1998, canvas, oil, 35x25 cm Juris Jurjans (1944-2023) - Painter Juris Jurjāns graduated from J. Rozentals School of Art in Riga (1962), and Painting Department of Latvian Art Academy (1969) with diploma work “Summer” (under the guidance of E. Kalniņš). The artist takes part in exhibitions since 1969. Self-exhibitions in: Straupe (1974), Riga (1975, 1984, 1991, 1994), Lielupe (1975), Mersrags (1983, together with A. Jurjane), Smiltene (1986), Liepaja (1986, together with A. Jurjane), Leningrad (1989). J. Jurjans is a member of Latvian Artists’ Union since 1975. 1969 – 72 he worked as a teacher in Riga secondary school No 20. 1972 – 88 Jurjans was an artist of the company “Māksla”. 1972 – 88 teaches at the Latvian Art Academy. Since 1988, he is a lector of the Latvian Art Academy Pedagogic Department. Since 1992, the artist is an assistant professor of the Latvian Art academy Painting...

Category

1990s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Colorado Guy
Colorado Guy

Colorado Guy

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original Oil and Gold Leaf painting. Signed by the Artist in the lower left corner.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

20. Curious shells

20. Curious shells

By Maria Sibylla Merian

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

"Sunset"
"Sunset"

"Sunset"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

“Sunset” - a symphony of colors on a winter evening Alexander Khrapachev, 2015 Here is an exceptional painting “Sunset” by the talented Ukrainian artist Alexander Khrapachov - a can...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Visit to the Bazaar - 1916 British watercolour on silk by Sheringham

Visit to the Bazaar - 1916 British watercolour on silk by Sheringham

By George Sheringham

Located in London, GB

GEORGE SHERINGHAM (1884-1937) Visit to the Bazaar Signed; inscribed with title on a label on the backboard Watercolour and gold paint on silk 15 by 38 cm., 6 by 15 in. (frame size 34 by 56 cm., 13 ½ by 22 in.) Exhibited: London, Leicester Galleries, Exhibition of Works by George Sheringham, 1916, no.17. Sheringham was born in London and studied at the Slade under Henry Tonks and later in Venice, Brussels, Berlin and Paris where he held his first one-man exhibition in 1905. On his return to London he initially supported himself with poster designs and teaching. His first exhibition of fan designs was held at the Ryder Gallery in 1909 followed by another in the following year. With enthusiastic reviews in Studio he had launched his career as a decorative designer, theatrical designer and illustrator. He illustrated books by Max Beerbohm and Cyrus MacMillan. In 1921 he collaborated with his brother Hugh on a book about fishing, The Book of the Fly Rod. He wrote Drawing in Pen and Pencil (1922), with James Laver, Design in the Theatre (1927) and with Rupert Mason and R Boyd Morrison he edited Robes of Thespis, Costume Designs by Modern Artists (1928). As a decorator, Sheringham designed the music room at 40 Devonshire House...

Category

1910s Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Deer, Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture
Deer, Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture

Deer, Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture

Located in Long Island City, NY

This bronze sculpture of a deer is a realistic rendering of the majestic animal. Deer have been the center of literature and art for many cultures across the world. They have also ...

Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

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

Black Blue sea. 2022. Canvas, oil, 80x100 cm
Black Blue sea. 2022. Canvas, oil, 80x100 cm

Black Blue sea. 2022. Canvas, oil, 80x100 cm

By Igor Maikov

Located in Riga, LV

Igor Maikov (1966) Education: 1981 - 1984 The Art Academy of Latvia 1973 - 1983 Salaspils Primary and Secondary School Exhibitions: 1994 - Group Exhibition «Rol-Art», Latvia ...

Category

1990s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Purpose of Existence 14 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
Purpose of Existence 14 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women

Purpose of Existence 14 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

BENAVENT ROCOMORA Spanish painter night landscape fire 19th
BENAVENT ROCOMORA Spanish painter night landscape fire 19th

BENAVENT ROCOMORA Spanish painter night landscape fire 19th

Located in PARIS, FR

Cayetano BENAVENT ROCAMORA Reus, 1834 - Barcelona, ​​1910 Oil on cardboard 18.5 x 25.5 cm (29 x 34 cm with the frame) Signed lower right “Cayentano Benavent” Nice old frame Cayentan...

Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Toes - original contemporary artwork - figurative oil painting
Toes - original contemporary artwork - figurative oil painting

Toes - original contemporary artwork - figurative oil painting

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Pink Blanket - original contemporary artwork - figurative oil painting
Pink Blanket - original contemporary artwork - figurative oil painting

Pink Blanket - original contemporary artwork - figurative oil painting

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

LANGEROCK Portrait Young Egyptian girl  Belgian realist painter 19th
LANGEROCK Portrait Young Egyptian girl  Belgian realist painter 19th

LANGEROCK Portrait Young Egyptian girl Belgian realist painter 19th

Located in PARIS, FR

Henri LANGEROCK Ghent, 1830 – Marseille, 1915 Oil on canvas 45 x 33 cm (69 x 57 cm with the frame) Signed top right "H. Langerock" Beautiful 19th century gilded wood frame Henri Langerock was a Belgian painter born in Ghent but who worked in France and died in Marseille. He also traveled a lot, in France and abroad. Langerock first became known for his landscapes of France (Vosges, Picardy, Ardèche...). Then he traveled to Egypt and Brazil between 1878 and 1885, as well as to black Africa. He exhibited his painting of a traveling painter at the Paris Salon until 1901. Our painting is a beautiful portrait of a young girl with a lace headdress and a sequin necklace...

Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"Wrapped" (2020) By Daud Akhriev, Original Oil Painting
"Wrapped" (2020) By Daud Akhriev, Original Oil Painting

"Wrapped" (2020) By Daud Akhriev, Original Oil Painting

Located in Denver, CO

Daud Akhriev's (EUR and US based) "Wrapped" (2020) is an original, handmade oil painting. Artist Biography: The Soviet educational system singled out 8-year-old Daud Akhriev for spe...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

Léon-Jean-Bazille Perrault Oil Painting Genre Scene "Playmates"
Léon-Jean-Bazille Perrault Oil Painting Genre Scene "Playmates"

Léon-Jean-Bazille Perrault Oil Painting Genre Scene "Playmates"

By Léon-Jean-Bazille Perrault

Located in New York, NY

Léon-Jean-Bazille Perrault French 1832 - 1908 Playmates A sweet genre painting of a young woman and child playing with a kitten. Rendered in oil paint, Perrault utilizes both thin...

Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Autobiography" Aaron Bohrod, Pun Humor, Cars, Realism, Motoring
"Autobiography" Aaron Bohrod, Pun Humor, Cars, Realism, Motoring

"Autobiography" Aaron Bohrod, Pun Humor, Cars, Realism, Motoring

By Aaron Bohrod

Located in New York, NY

Aaron Bohrod Autobiography, 1991 Signed lower right Oil on gesso board 12 x 16 inches Aaron Bohrod's work has not been limited to one style or medium. Initially recognized as a regionalist painter of American scenes, particularly of his native Chicago, Bohrod later devoted himself to detailed still-life paintings rendered in the trompe l'oeil style. He also worked for several years in ceramics and wrote a book on pottery. Born in 1907, Bohrod began his studies at Chicago's Crane Junior College in 1925, and two years later enrolled in the Art Institute of Chicago. But it was at the Art Students League in New York City, from 1930 to 1932, that he studied under the man believed to be his most significant early influence, John Sloan. Sloan's romantic realism is reflected in the many depictions of Chicago life...

Category

1990s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

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.