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
1,461
5,359
3,183
2,733
2,007
1,848
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
331
1,181
6,261
7,381
122
72
118
143
171
697
1,275
1,365
842
304
197
117,669
64,469
56,574
28,404
14,647
9,601
6,782
6,016
4,184
3,149
2,544
2,330
2,143
602
7,442
5,181
1,814
5,889
2,973
2,159
1,824
1,779
1,279
1,276
1,145
995
985
884
848
709
708
682
641
627
589
542
507
8,163
5,784
3,529
3,285
3,284
3,426
133
98
83
4,052
4,683
10,001
4,039
Style: Realist
'La Leçon de Chant – The Singing Lesson' by Théodule Augustin Ribot, 1823 – 1891
'La Leçon de Chant – The Singing Lesson' by Théodule Augustin Ribot, 1823 – 1891

'La Leçon de Chant – The Singing Lesson' by Théodule Augustin Ribot, 1823 – 1891

By Théodule Augustin Ribot

Located in Knokke, BE

Théodule Augustin Ribot St Nicolas d’Attez 1823 – 1891 Colombes French Painter 'La Leçon de Chant – The Singing Lesson' Signature: signed lower left 't.ribot' Medium: oil on canva...

Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Nature"
"Nature"

"Nature"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Nature is a source of energy and a feast for the eyes.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Prospect of Durham from the River 19th Century Watercolour

Prospect of Durham from the River 19th Century Watercolour

Located in London, GB

To see our other views and maps of England - including London, Durham, Oxford and Cambridge, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" -...

Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Study for Venice Canal II
Study for Venice Canal II

Study for Venice Canal II

By Juan Álvarez Cebrián

Located in CAMPO REAL, ES

This work is an initial exploration of the iconic Venice canal, conceived as a preliminary study with the intention of developing it into a larger format in the future. In this study...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil

W.C. Nowell, "Cherries and Calla Lilies", 12x20 Floral Still Life Oil Painting
W.C. Nowell, "Cherries and Calla Lilies", 12x20 Floral Still Life Oil Painting

W.C. Nowell, "Cherries and Calla Lilies", 12x20 Floral Still Life Oil Painting

Located in Saratoga Springs, NY

This painting presents a vivid, carefully staged still life that contrasts lush color with a restrained setting. At the right, a porcelain bowl decorated with small floral motifs is filled to overflowing with bright red cherries. Their glossy skins catch pinpoint highlights, and a few slender stems arc outward, adding a sense of liveliness and upward movement. Stretching horizontally across the composition, a trio of deep pink calla lilies...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Dimitris Kritsas at the Temple to Poseidon, Sounion, Greece, Estate Edition
Dimitris Kritsas at the Temple to Poseidon, Sounion, Greece, Estate Edition

Dimitris Kritsas at the Temple to Poseidon, Sounion, Greece, Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Dimitris Kritsas, a fashionable young couturier, poses among the gleaming white Doric columns of the temple to Poseidon at Sounion, Greece, 1967. Posing with him, four models show off colorful dresses of red, salmon, turquoise, and pastel yellow. This iconic photo depicts a scene of vintage glamour set against a classic Greek blue sky. Slim Aarons Dmitris Kritsas at the Temple to Poseidon, Sounion, Greece Estate Edition of 150 1967, Printed Later 48 x 48 inches $4500 40 x 40 inches $3950 30 x 30 inches $3350 20 x 20 inches $2500 Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Over the course of a career lasting half a century, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) portrayed high society, aristocracy, authors, artists, business icons, the celebrated and their milieu. In doing so, he captured a golden age of wealth, privilege, beauty and leisure that occurred alongside—but quite separate from—the cultural and political backdrop of the second half of the Twentieth Century. 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. Site Details: The Temple of Poseidon is an ancient Greek temple on Cape Sounion, Greece, dedicated to the god Poseidon. There is evidence of the establishment of sanctuaries on the cape from as early as the 11th century B.C. Sounion’s most prominent temples, the Temple of Athena and the Temple of Poseidon, are however not believed to have been built until about 700 B.C., and their kouroi (freestanding Greek statues of young men) date from about one hundred years later. The material and size of the offerings at the Temple of Poseidon indicate that it was likely frequented by members of the elite and the aristocratic class Approximately 13 kilometers south of Thorikos in the southern most region of Attica, the deme of Sounion is most well known for its sanctuaries of Poseidon and Athena. Its placement at the foot of Attica allowed it to function as a border deme as it could easily been seen by ships nearing Attica. The temple of Poseidon at Sounion was constructed from 444 to 440 BC. This was during the ascendancy of the Athenian statesman Pericles, who also rebuilt the Parthenon in Athens. The temple of Poseidon was built on the ruins of a temple dating from the Archaic period, about which the Greek geographer Strabo noted: "Geraistos [in Euboia] . . . is conveniently situated for those who are sailing across from Asia to Attica since it is near Sounion. It has a sanctuary (hieron) of Poseidon, the most notable of those in that part of the world, and also a noteworthy settlement. The main temple we see today is mainly made out of marble with an intricate taenia (the fancy borders on the ceiling). The marble is an Agrileza marble. The marble used on the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion came from the marble quarries, a place where marble is removed from the earth, in the Agrileza mines. This type of marble was 'coarsed grained' meaning that it had a rougher texture than smooth, shiny marble. As indicated by literary and archaeological evidence, the "leveled summit" on the coast of Cape Sounion was likely a cult site from as early as the end of the eighth century BC. Two cult centers dedicated to Athena and Poseidon respectively are believed to have been established by 700 BC. Subject: The name of Greek fashion designer...

Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Cirkus Amazing Amalie. 2012, oil on canvas, 74x70 cm
Cirkus Amazing Amalie. 2012, oil on canvas, 74x70 cm

Cirkus Amazing Amalie. 2012, oil on canvas, 74x70 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

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Writing a Letter – Hand-colored Meiji Era photograph, Japan
Writing a Letter – Hand-colored Meiji Era photograph, Japan

Writing a Letter – Hand-colored Meiji Era photograph, Japan

Located in Middletown, NY

Original Photograph Yokohama, Japan: c 1880 Hand-tinted albumen print, 10 1/2 x 8 inches (266 x 203 mm). Edges a little faded and some cockling, image is clear and beautifully color...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor, Photographic Paper

Antique Oil Portrait Young Woman European Lady Gilt Frame 19th Century
Antique Oil Portrait Young Woman European Lady Gilt Frame 19th Century

Antique Oil Portrait Young Woman European Lady Gilt Frame 19th Century

Located in Palm Coast, FL

This charming antique oil on board depicts an elegant young woman dressed in a flowing pastel gown and wide-brimmed floral hat, rendered in a soft, romantic style reminiscent of the ...

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Guglielmo Ciardi (Venetian painter) - 19th century Realism market scene
Guglielmo Ciardi (Venetian painter) - 19th century Realism market scene

Guglielmo Ciardi (Venetian painter) - 19th century Realism market scene

By Guglielmo Ciardi

Located in Varmo, IT

Guglielmo Ciardi (Venice 1842 - Venice 1917) - Market of Badoere. 20 x 27.5 cm (without frame) - 44.5 x 51 cm (with frame). Pencil on paper, within passe-partout, in wooden frame. ...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Acapulco Lunch
Acapulco Lunch

Acapulco Lunch

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A long afternoon lunch at Acapulco. Among the guest are (from left to right) film star Douglas Fairbanks Junior (1909 - 2000), couturiers Oscar de la Renta, and standing behind him E...

Category

1960s Realist Art

Materials

C Print

48. Hibiscus

48. Hibiscus

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

Fly Away

Fly Away

By Gerald Balciar

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Bronze sculpture engraved with the Artist's signature and edition number. 45/75

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

Mid-19th Century Realist Oil Painting of a New Puppy on Canvas
Mid-19th Century Realist Oil Painting of a New Puppy on Canvas

Mid-19th Century Realist Oil Painting of a New Puppy on Canvas

Located in Naples, Florida

Rosa Schwenninger was born into a highly regarded artistic family in Vienna, her father being Karl Schwenninger the elder. Although she received an artistic education from her father she also studied at the University of Applied Arts Vienna with Frederick Sturm from 1869 to 1871. Rosa’s work was featured at the 1893 World’s Fair...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Museology 17

Museology 17

Located in Atlanta, GA

Bio Aaron M. Brown was born in Wichita, KS. He received a BFA from the University of Kansas, MFA from Syracuse University. Awards include grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Gypsy girl, 1947. Oil on canvas, 34x37 cm
Gypsy girl, 1947. Oil on canvas, 34x37 cm

Gypsy girl, 1947. Oil on canvas, 34x37 cm

By Jadviga Zjilvinska

Located in Riga, LV

Jadviga Žilvinska (1918-2010) was born in Tallinn. She grew up in Liepāja, where her great interest in art began and strengthened, which led the young artist to study at the Art Academy of Latvia. During her studies at the Academy, she studied with K. Ubāns, V. Tone and J. Liepiņš, and defended her diploma thesis under the guidance of L. Liberts. Later on, she devoted her entire life to art, working at the Liepāja School of Fine Arts and as a portraitist at the "Māksla" combine. She had four favourite themes: landscapes, portraits, flowers and sacred painting. Her works have lyricism and inner harmony. In the portraits, we see not only the outer form of a person, but the artist allows us to look into the very essence of a person - it is likely that the models themselves often saw something new and bright in themselves through the artist's vision. The works are executed in various techniques - tempera, oil, pastel and watercolour. CV: 1938 - Graduated from the Liepaja Secondary School of Applied Arts, Department of Decorative Painting. 1943 - Latvian Academy of Art, L. Liberts Figurative Painting Workshop with her diploma work "At the Artist's" 1946-1948 - teacher of painting and drawing at Liepāja Fine Arts High School. 1948-1966 - portraitist at the "Māksla" combine Participated in exhibitions since 1948. Member of the Artists' Union since 1966. Solo exhibitions in Riga, Jelgava, Sigulda (1972); Riga (1975; 1978; two in 1981; 1986; 1994), Jurmala (1979). Works exhibited in Latvia as well as abroad (Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Finland, Venezuela, Germany, Hungary). The works are located in: "Portrait of Cardinal Julian Vaivoda", 1983, in the Vatican Museum in Rome "Portrait of Pope John Paul II, 1982, in the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Curia of Riga The altarpieces "The Heart of Jesus" and "Our Lady of Fatima", the paintings "John the Baptist" and "The Holy Family" , all from the late 1960s, in the Church of St Mary Magdalene...

Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lions
Lions

Geza VastaghLions, c. 1900s

$7,600Sale Price|20% Off

Lions

By Geza Vastagh

Located in Houston, TX

Vastagh, Geza (1866-1919) Well listed Hungarian artist. Unsigned 22 x 28. Oil on canvas, depicting a lion and lioness, one of his favourite subjects. Expert's report on hand, circa ...

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait of Mrs. Johnstone
Portrait of Mrs. Johnstone

Portrait of Mrs. Johnstone

By Sir Henry Raeburn

Located in Miami, FL

This is one of Raeburns best works from his best period that is not in a museum or private collection. Three-quarter length portrait, seated in a white dress with a black scarf over...

Category

Early 1800s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Gasthof Post Pool, Estate Edition
Gasthof Post Pool, Estate Edition

Gasthof Post Pool, Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Guests lounging by the indoor swimming pool of the Gasthof Post in Lech, Austria, February 1979. Slim Aarons Gasthof Post Pool Chromogenic Lambda print Printed Later Slim Aarons Est...

Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

"Evening"
"Evening"

"Evening"

By Oleksandr Khrapachov

Located in Edinburgh, GB

Evening Ascent to Silence What you see before you is not a fantasy, but a living memory of a place. In 2009, Alexander Khrapachov stood with his brush in front of these ancient ste...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Magpie, a Pomeranian

Magpie, a Pomeranian

By Arthur Wardle

Located in London, GB

Arthur Wardle (1864-1949) Magpie, a Pomeranian signed in pencil ‘Arthur Wardle' and inscribed 'Magpie' (lower left and lower right respectively) oil on canvasboard 10 x 14 in. (25.4 ...

Category

Early 1900s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, 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.