Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
What is the definition of realism in art?
1 Answer

In art, the definition of realism is work that 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. Realism as an artistic movement usually refers to 19th-century French artists such as Honoré Daumier, who explored social and political issues in biting prints, and Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet, who painted people 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. On 1stDibs, shop a range of realist art.
1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024
Related Questions
- What is the definition of Surrealism in art?1 Answer
- What is the definition of a chair?1 Answer
- What is the meaning of Realism in art?1 Answer
- What art movement came after Realism?1 Answer
- Is still life art realism?1 Answer
Shop for Realist Art on 1stDibs
Snowdrops. Original oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Snowdrops are the first flowers that appear in my garden. Their fragility and incredible tenderness are amazing. The various shades of white color of the flower, the reflections of t...
Category
2010s Realist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Mystic Louisiana Marsh Landscape in Blue Tones, Limited Edition Cyanotype Print
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype.
Exquisite landscape of a "Mystic Louisiana Marsh".
Details:
+ Title: Mystic Louisiana Marsh
+ Year: 2025
+ Edition Size:...
Category
2010s Realist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Lithograph, Monotype
"Let Them Eat Cake" (2014) by Suzy Smith, Original Oil Painting, Portrait
By Suzy Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Suzy Smith's "Let Them Eat Cake" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a female nude with a crown set against a backdrop inspired by a Wayne Thiebaud cake ...
Category
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil, Panel
"Last Light" - Oil on Canvas Winter Landscape with Sunset Mountains
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Harrison’s Last Light (2025) is an original, handmade oil painting on canvas that captures the fleeting beauty of twilight as it falls over a snow-covered plain and the rugged p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil
Cat Therapy
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, we see a minimalist room with a huge window, beyond which stretches a sky filled with fluffy white clouds. Muted colors dominate—the blue of the sky contrasts beaut...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
David Smith (1939-) English Countryside large REALIST ORIGINAL Oil Painting
By David Smith
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: David Smith (1949-) British
TITLE: "The River Dove, Derbyshire"
SIGNED: lower right
MEDIUM: oil on canvas
SIZE: 102cm x 72cm framed
CONDITION: excellent
DETAIL: British ...
Category
Late 20th Century Realist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil