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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
Rural landscape. Paper, watercolor, 30 x 41. 5 cm
Rural landscape. Paper, watercolor, 30 x 41. 5 cm

Rural landscape. Paper, watercolor, 30 x 41. 5 cm

By Dzidra Ezergaile

Located in Riga, LV

Rural landscape. Paper, watercolor, 30x41.5 cm Dzidra Ezergaile (1926-2013) Born in Riga. School years alternate with summer work in the countryside. In 1947, she began her studies ...

Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Shell 3 , Oil Painting

Shell 3 , Oil Painting

By Gregory Block

Located in Denver, CO

Gregory Block's "Shell 3" is an oil on board created in 2020 depicting a shell floating above glistening waves. About the artist: Gregory was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 19...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Sailing regatta., Painting, Oil on Canvas
Sailing regatta., Painting, Oil on Canvas

Sailing regatta., Painting, Oil on Canvas

By Iryna Kastsova

Located in Yardley, PA

Sailing regatta. Sailboats sail under the midday sun, the light is reflected from the canvas of the sail and passing clouds, the ocean, a serene view, creates an atmosphere of relaxation, harmony and bliss. Realism. The work of the palette knife knife...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Unspeakable. Oil on canvas, 2022 80x100 cm
Unspeakable. Oil on canvas, 2022 80x100 cm

Unspeakable. Oil on canvas, 2022 80x100 cm

By Ivdra Antra

Located in Riga, LV

Antra Ivdra (1966) The member of Artist association in Latvia (2004), Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques (2008), Association of Creativity, Latvia (2006). Art education...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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

Railroad, 1932, Reginald Marsh, Train, Lithograph, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Railroad, 1932, Reginald Marsh, Train, Lithograph, Metropolitan Museum of Art

By Reginald Marsh

Located in Wiscasset, ME

An urban realist painter, Marsh was born in Paris, France and began drawing as early as the age of three. His artistic studies were done at Yale University, the Art Student League in New York and in Paris. Marsh was a member of the National Academy, the Royal Society of Artists, London, the Southern Vermont Artists...

Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Apple tree_02, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper

Apple tree_02, Painting, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper

By Helal Uddin

Located in Yardley, PA

This is one of my studio paintings. I love watercolor because it’s a very challenging medium. I used Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors with world-class acid-free Arches 300gsm wa...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Ocean light 3., Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Ocean light 3., Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Ocean light 3., Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Iryna Kastsova

Located in Yardley, PA

Ocean light 3. Blue water, ocean, water glare, clear sky, create an atmosphere of relaxation and romance. Made in the style of realism, light blue, white palette emphasizes the energ...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Joker portrait
Joker portrait

Joker portrait

By Anastasia Aureum

Located in London, London

watercolour portrait artist: Anastasia Aureum original watercolor painting on paper one-of-a-kind hand signed Abstract portrait painting "Thanks to this psychological analysis...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Tempera, Watercolor

Lovers
Lovers

Lovers

By Anastasia Aureum

Located in London, London

oil on canvas one-of-a-kind hand signed The canvas will be shipped STRETCHED, unframed All custom charges are included in the final price agreed

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Squirrel II, Bronze Sculpture by T. Galbreath
Squirrel II, Bronze Sculpture by T. Galbreath

Squirrel II, Bronze Sculpture by T. Galbreath

By T. Galbreath

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: T. Galbreath Title: Squirrel I Year: 1997 Medium: Bronze Sculpture, Signature and number inscribed Edition: 71/100 Size: 7 in. x 3 in. x 3 in. (17.78 cm x 7.62 cm x 7.62 cm)

Category

1990s Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

Duke, a springer spaniel

Duke, a springer spaniel

By Thomas Ivester Lloyd

Located in London, GB

Thomas Ivester Lloyd (1873-1942) Duke, a springer spaniel signed 'T IVESTER LLOYD' (lower right) and inscribed 'DUKE.' (lower left) oil on board 7 ¾ x 9 ¼ in. (19.7 x 23.5 cm.) frame...

Category

Early 1900s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Robert Kenneth White "Red Door" 2018 Oil Painting of Classical Façade and Shadow
Robert Kenneth White "Red Door" 2018 Oil Painting of Classical Façade and Shadow

Robert Kenneth White "Red Door" 2018 Oil Painting of Classical Façade and Shadow

By Robert Kenneth White

Located in Miami, FL

ROBERT KENNETH WHITE – "RED DOOR" ⚜ Oil on canvas ⚜ Signed lower right ⚜ Frameless Display ARCHITECTURAL REALISM BY ROBERT KENNETH WHITE In "Red Door," Robert Kenneth White masterfully captures the interplay of sunlight, shadow, and classical architecture, transforming a simple doorway into an evocative study of structure and light. The crimson entry partially concealed in shadow invites viewers to imagine the hidden stories behind its historic façade. Known for his painterly precision and atmospheric realism, White elevates everyday scenes with exceptional technical skill and a keen eye for mood. The composition’s detailed architectural carvings and dramatic lighting showcase his ability to blend photorealism with timeless elegance. WHY COLLECT THIS WORK? ✓ Original oil by Robert Kenneth White, celebrated for architectural, figurative, and landscape works ✓ Captures rich texture, historic detail, and compelling light effects ✓ Ideal for collectors of realism, architectural studies, or European-inspired compositions ✓ Ready for framing or display ARTWORK DETAILS: ▸ Title: "Red Door" ▸ Artist: Robert Kenneth White ▸ Medium: Oil on Canvas ▸ Year of Creation: 2018 ▸ Signature: Hand signed lower right ▸ Country of Origin: United States ▸ Dimensions: — ◼︎ Artwork Size: 30.125 x 22 inches ▸ Condition: Excellent ▸ Framing: Frameless Display – Ready to hang or frame INCLUDED DOCUMENTATION ✓ Certificate of Authenticity ✓ Artist Biography Document THE ARTIST: Robert Kenneth White is an acclaimed American realist known for his atmospheric landscapes, coastal vistas, and architectural studies that merge technical mastery with painterly warmth. Working primarily in oil, White draws inspiration from classical architecture, European cityscapes, and the quiet beauty of everyday structures. His compositions often explore the interaction of light and form, reminiscent of artists like Edward Hopper, John Register...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Meditation" Dutch Woman Sewing Interior Genre Home scene Fruit Flowers on Table
"Meditation" Dutch Woman Sewing Interior Genre Home scene Fruit Flowers on Table

"Meditation" Dutch Woman Sewing Interior Genre Home scene Fruit Flowers on Table

By Bernard De Hoog

Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Bernard de Hoog was born in Amsterdam in 1866. He studied under J.F. Hulk and J.C. van Essen at the Quellinus School in Amsterdam. Mainly a genre and portrait painter, he occupies a distinguished place among the masters of Dutch modernism. He was associated with The Hague School, primarily a movement of realism, a reaction against Romanticism. He lived and worked in Laren, Haarlem, Bussum, and The Hague enjoying much commercial success. His paintings were readily exported to the United State, Canada, and England. De Hoog advocated the simple country life and produced many endearing interior scenes inspired by compassion for the impoverished existence of the Dutch peasantry. Set within a quiet domestic interior space, our painting catches a meditative moment of a woman in the midst of her sewing. A large window illuminates this intimate interior. de Hoog’s delicate brushwork captures the sunlight reflected in the woman’s red dress...

Category

Late 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

New Jersey Shore Salt Marsh, nineteenth century watercolor by Essig
New Jersey Shore Salt Marsh, nineteenth century watercolor by Essig

New Jersey Shore Salt Marsh, nineteenth century watercolor by Essig

Located in Philadelphia, PA

George Emerick Essig (American, 1838-1923) Jersey Shore Watercolor on paper, 12 3/4 x 26 x 1/2 inches FRAMED: 22 x 35 1/2 inches (approx.) Signed at lower right: "Geo. E. Essig" Ge...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

Oval Painting On Convex Canvas Gilt wood Framed Hand Painting Birds Still Life
Oval Painting On Convex Canvas Gilt wood Framed Hand Painting Birds Still Life

Oval Painting On Convex Canvas Gilt wood Framed Hand Painting Birds Still Life

Located in Jacksonville, FL

Amidst a pastoral setting, a resplendent peacock, a stately duck, and a lively gathering of roosters and hens perch along a rustic wooden fence. The artist’s skillful brushwork captu...

Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Sacred Writings  Religious and Mythological Narratives   Florence Academy  Oil
Sacred Writings  Religious and Mythological Narratives   Florence Academy  Oil

Sacred Writings Religious and Mythological Narratives Florence Academy Oil

Located in Houston, TX

Samuel S.Hoskins Statement on Sacred Writing : I sought to delve into the concept of sacred texts, encompassing both religious and mythological narratives. Unlike conventional books, these sacred texts are dynamic, evolving throughout an individual's lifetime and human history. Reading such a text in childhood carries distinct significance compared to revisiting it in later stages of life. To symbolize our transformative journey, I depicted a path leading into the forest, illustrating how our life experiences influence our connection with these profound literary works. Sacred Writing 26x34 28x36 with Frame As a graduate of The Florence Academy of Art and a devoted oil painter, Samuel Hoskins...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Linen

Claude Shepperson - Petrushka - Watercolour scene from the Ballets Russes
Claude Shepperson - Petrushka - Watercolour scene from the Ballets Russes

Claude Shepperson - Petrushka - Watercolour scene from the Ballets Russes

By Claude Allin Shepperson

Located in London, GB

CLAUDE ALLIN SHEPPERSON, ARA, ARWS (1867-1921) Petrushka – Scene from the Ballets Russes Signed l.l.: Shepperson Watercolour over traces of pencil on paper Framed 30.5 by 45.5 cm., 12 by 18 in. (frame size 52.5 by 66 cm., 20 ¾ by 26 in.) Provenance: Richard C Davis...

Category

1910s Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

Against the sea wind
Against the sea wind

Against the sea wind

By Serghei Ghetiu

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this painting, I captured the vibrant dance between light and sea, where the fiery sail defies the stormy sky. Using oil, I blended impressionism and realism to evoke raw energy a...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Three Blue, White and Gold Cups Stacked"
"Three Blue, White and Gold Cups Stacked"

"Three Blue, White and Gold Cups Stacked"

By Olga Antonova

Located in Wellesley, MA

Olga Antonova’s subject is compositions of extraordinarily elegant and beautiful cups, plates, teapots, and dishes, but there is something humorous and provocative about these paintings that belies formality: stacked teacups are also amusing, having a kind of jaunty and upbeat personality of their own, polka dots are as endearing to adults as to children, and everyone responds to the 'bling' and sparkle of gold and Antonova’s seemingly effortless ability to paint these radiant details: Olga Antonova "Three Blue, White and Gold Cups...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

View Of The City
View Of The City

View Of The City

Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL

Early 20th Century European School, view of the city, with buildings in the background, gouache on paper unsigned in a beautiful custom made Haydenryk frame under glass.

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Gouache, Board

Batumi. 1987, paper, watercolor, 18x30.5 cm
Batumi. 1987, paper, watercolor, 18x30.5 cm

Batumi. 1987, paper, watercolor, 18x30.5 cm

By Nikolai Uvarov

Located in Riga, LV

Batumi. 1987, paper, watercolor, 18x30.5 cm The watercolor painting portrays a landscape scene of Batumi, a city in Georgia. The artist skillfully uses watercolor techniques to depi...

Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

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

"A moment in history"

By Oleksandr Khrapachov

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

Winter in the city. Oil on canvas, 73.5x85 cm
Winter in the city. Oil on canvas, 73.5x85 cm

Winter in the city. Oil on canvas, 73.5x85 cm

By Rolands Krisjans

Located in Riga, LV

Winter on Barona Street. Oil on canvas, 73.5x85 cm Rolands Krishjans (1966) In 1984 I finished J. Rozenthals art school in Riga. In 1993 I graduated from Latvian Art Academy with d...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"The Seeker, " Sculpture
"The Seeker, " Sculpture

"The Seeker, " Sculpture

By Bill Starke

Located in Denver, CO

Bill Starke's "The Seeker" is a limited edition (#3/50), bronze sculpture created by Bill Starke depicting a male figure peering down through a small opening beneath him. About th...

Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Bronze, Metal

The Lake Anna, 1990. Oil on cardboard, 40 x 50 cm
The Lake Anna, 1990. Oil on cardboard, 40 x 50 cm

The Lake Anna, 1990. Oil on cardboard, 40 x 50 cm

Located in Riga, LV

Alfejs Bromults (1913.3.IV – 1991.11.I) Alfej Bromults received his first professional education at Tautas University under R. Suta, J. Bīne and G. Šķilters. From 1938 he studied in...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

This is a Real Place! 1: large painting of lake or river w/ blue water & bridge
This is a Real Place! 1: large painting of lake or river w/ blue water & bridge

This is a Real Place! 1: large painting of lake or river w/ blue water & bridge

By Brooke Lanier

Located in Bryn Mawr, PA

"In the series “This is a real place!” I was fascinated by how the underside of the pier at Saint Simons Island, GA was like a readymade collage. The way the pilings and rails divide and frame the spaces between them looks artificially imposed on the scene until you notice the way the waves bounce off the pilings and the railings cast shadows on the water. In some iterations, I chose to simplify the structures of the pier and lighten the values so that it would emphasize the detail in the water. Likewise, I omitted a family of starlings and their droppings in favor of highlighting the geometry of the architecture and the colors and patterns of the water. Making paintings in a series allows me to investigate the results of making different decisions about an image. How I crop or stylize it, the manner in which I apply the paint, what gets included or excluded all add shades of meaning to each piece. Additionally, depictions of the same subject in different weather, seasons, times of day, and tides allows me a deeper understanding. I notice more relationships, colors, and details every time I paint the subject. Every painting is a pile of decisions. Playing with removing more and more details to see what is truly important sometimes improves the painting. The fewer elements you include in an image, the more each one means, and the more important it is to get each thing perfect. At times I like to paint every single detail I can find in a scene, and other times I feel like the unadorned components are sufficient to hold each other in a satisfying composition. I often add simplified shapes to my paintings to highlight the presence of absence or to heighten the importance of each area by creating stark visual contrasts. ⁠The physicality of the paint also plays a role. I used highly textured, thickly applied paint to construct the solid structural elements, and luminous layers of thinly glazed paint for the delicate linework and subtle blending of the water." - Brooke Lanier...

Category

2010s 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.