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Realist Paintings

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
"Reclining Nude", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Please note: This is a secondary market artwork with one previous owner. Kang Cho's artistic legacy endures through "Reclining Nude," a serene and contemplative handmade original o...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Vintage Oil Painting of River Sunset in the Woods of the English Countryside
Located in Preston, GB
Vintage Oil Painting of River Sunset in the Woods of the English Countryside by 20th Century British Artist. Painted using warm orange and green colours creating a unique atmosphere....
Category

20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mountain Lake in Spring Oil Painting of the Scottish Highlands by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Mountain Lake in Spring Oil Painting of the Scottish Highlands by British Artist by British Artist, Andrew Grant Kurtis M.A.(Lon) B.Des.(Hons) L.S.I.A.D. Art measures 30 x 20 inche...
Category

20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

I wish I was in Carrickfergus
Located in Zofingen, AG
Evgeniy loves to listen to the great Jim McCann during the painting sessions and one of the Irish folk songs performed by him, very suitable in terms of lyrics and mood, gave the tit...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Tempera, Wood Panel

Antique Oil on Canvas Orientalist Painting Moorish Spain Gate of The Sun Toledo
Located in Portland, OR
A large & important Orientalist oil on canvas painting, Moorish Spain, by Pollok Sinclair Nesbit (1848-1922) ASRA, "The Gate of the Sun" Toledo, 1872. A member of The Royal Scottish ...
Category

1870s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Fine Quality English late 20th century Still life of wild flowers in a vase
Located in Woodbury, CT
Bennett Oates, Fine Quality English late 20th century Still life of wild flowers in a vase. Oates was an English painter of flower subjects during the last half of the 20th centur...
Category

1990s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Oil Painting of Highland Cows in Scotland Loch by 20th Century British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Oil Painting of Highland Cows in Scotland Loch by 20th Century British Artist Wendy Reeves. Art measures 20 x 16 inches Frame measures 24 x 20 inches ...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

CONTEMPORARY Fine Art Landscape Artwork Spanish Artist Carol Moreno
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing its originality and provenance. We offer secure worldwide delivery to any address you specify, ensuring that your purchase arrives in pristine condition. If you require additional shipping options or a bespoke quote from our trusted network of carriers, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to help you find the best solutions for a smooth and secure delivery experience. Carol Moreno Lara, artistic self-taught painter. Born in Barcelona. Proposal; Embellishes unique and personal spaces through artistic painting. A feisty woman who honors his personal development, she is noble, brave and delivered. He loves to paint and discover his passion for painting from very small. In 2005 he created his own studio Carol Moreno. And since then, he has worked for various corporations: Revlon Group (The Colomer Group), Moet Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, ColaCao and luxury hotel chains. Also contacts interior design studies, design, architecture … that has allowed closer ties with prestigious brands like Lazarus Violán Rosa, Jaime Beriestain...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Pocket Lemon 2022, Original Painting, Still Life, Fruit Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Very Yellow Lemon is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque st...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Baciami" Olio su tela cm. 60 x 120
Located in Torino, IT
Divertente interno con tavolo ,oggetti e rospo, il titolo -Baciami- è riferito al rospo..... magari diventa un principe...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Oil Painting of English Countryside with Horses & Ploughman by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Traditional Oil Painting of the English Countryside with Horses & Ploughman by 20th Century Modern British Artist, James Wright. Art measures 30 x 16 inches Frame measures 36 x 22 ...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

Super Moon, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Waves crash against a rocky coastline under the glow of a luminous silver moon. A lone tree clings to the cliff's edge, defying the elements. The vibrant inte...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

River Landscape with Highland Cows & Sheep in the Scottish Mountains
Located in Preston, GB
River Landscape with Highland Cows & Sheep in the Scottish Mountains by 20th Century British Artist, Wendy Reeves. Original, Oil on canvas, Signed Art measures 24 x 14 inches Frame measures 30 x 20 inches This painting depicts a serene landscape featuring a river flowing through a valley surrounded by majestic mountains. The scene is bathed in soft, natural light, with clouds partially covering the peaks, creating a misty atmosphere. In the foreground, three cows are grazing near the riverbank, adding a pastoral element to the tranquil setting. The lush greenery and rocky outcrops contribute to the overall idyllic and peaceful ambiance. The painting is framed in a vintage gold-colored frame, enhancing its classic and timeless appeal. Wendy Reeves garnered acclaim for her Scottish Highland and Lakeland paintings. Born in 1944 in Ewell, Surrey, she took to her father Gordon’s craft, deciding early on that she would be a painter. Prior to her famous paintings of the British Isles, artist Wendy Reeves painted scenes from a trip she made to Spain when she was 21. It was during this time that her dream of following in her father’s footsteps became a reality, and when she returned to England she cemented her name as an artist. Wendy Reeves' paintings showcase her talent with natural landscapes and the wildlife that inhabits them. Her work often features ochre and pink lights...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cherries in a Saucer- original realism still life oil painting- contemporary art
Located in London, Chelsea
This elegantly framed artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. A vision of delicacy and refinement, Cherries in a Saucer...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Poetry, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil on canvas, 11â€
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Ancient Rock Wall with Stone-filled Window - Figurative Painting of Greek Wall
Located in New York, NY
This painting measures 13.5"x 11.3". It is a poetic representation of a stone wall in the Greek island of Kythira. George Tzannes is an American painter of Greek origins. In his twen...
Category

1980s Realist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Wildlife Collection: Pocket Goldfinch, Original Painting, Animal Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Wildlife Collection: Pocket Goldfinch is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod ...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still Life With Lemons by Ginny Williams American Goldfinch Oil Painting
Located in Atlanta, GA
In Still Life with Lemons, Ginny Williams reimagines the classic still life with quiet wit and luminous detail. A single American Goldfinch—recognized by its brilliant yellow plumage...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

NYC Landscape Oil Painting Michael Budden Macy's Parade Series Sponge Bob
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Macy's Parade, Sponge Bob Part of a series of 11 paintings, some sold. An oil painting on canvas panel by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases images from ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Pocket Blueberries c, Original Painting, Still Life, Fruit Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Blueberries c is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque still ...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still Life Cabbage
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Elizabeth Osborne (b.1936). Still Life Cabbage, 1983. Watercolor on paper, sheet measures 22.5 x 30 inches; 29.5 x 37 inches in custom frame. Original Fischbach Gallery label affixed...
Category

1980s Realist Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

"Still-life of Fruits" by Maria Meriggi - Oil on Copper - 30x24 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Maria Meriggi, born in 1935, is an Italian painter known for her evocative depictions of urban landscapes and everyday scenes, particularly those of Venice. Her notable works include...
Category

1970s Realist Paintings

Materials

Metal, Copper

Pocket Bluer Blackbird's Egg #3 (c), Original Painting, Egg Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Bluer Blackbird Egg #3 c is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to bar...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Alois M Hennersdorf (German b. 1927) Oil on canvas painting, Still Life, COA
Located in Palm Coast, FL
Up for sale this charming Still life oil painting on canvas depicting a warm, intimate scene featuring a violin resting on a rich red cloth, illuminated by the soft glow of a single ...
Category

1990s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

OLD MASTER W . THORNLEY OIL PAINTING High Quality 19th CENTURY Gold Gilt Frame
Located in Ferndown, GB
OLD MASTER W . THORNLEY OIL PAINTING High Quality 19th CENTURY Gold Gilt Frame OLD MASTER LARGE OIL PAINTING 19th Century NEW COLLECTION Of RARE PIECES OF ENGLISH HISTORY “Very ...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

STILL LIFE OF FLOWERS AND FRUIT - Italian School - Oil on Canvas Italy Painting
Located in Napoli, IT
Still life of Flowers and Fruit - Maximilian Ciccone Italia 2002 - Oil on canvas cm.60x90. This oil on canvas painting is an incredible example of the artist's ability to capture bre...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Self-portrait oil on canvas painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
LLuis Ribas (1949) - Self-portrait - Oil canvas Oil measurements 55x46 cm. Frameless.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Pocket Pale Blue Sloes 2, Original Painting, Still Life, Sloes Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Pale Blue Sloes 2 is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil pai...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

New York City Winter Snow Painting Michael Budden Plaza Hotel Horse Carriage
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Winter Wonderland, Plaza Hotel oil/canvas 24 x 30 unframed, 31.75 x 37.88 x 2 framed. Winter Wonderland, Plaza Hotel is an oil painting on canvas by award winning contemporary artis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

In an embrace. Original oil painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Japanese cherry“ is a painting that pays homage to the natural beauty and timeless elegance of this flowering tree. My intention was to keep tenderness and fragility of flowers, a ...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Diptych of Pocket Chiaroscuro Pomegranate Tableau and Pocket Dark Cherries
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Chiaroscuro Pomegranate Tableau is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Charming Dog Painting, Two Springer Spaniels Sitting in a Wing Chair a Tight Fit
Located in Charleston, US
"Tight Fit" a charming narrative dog painting by Beth Carlson of two beautiful Springer Spaniel dogs cozily sharing a wing chair in a living room interior. T...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

20th century English dog portrait of a Pekinese dog called Bumble
Located in Woodbury, CT
Francis Mabel Hollams (British, 1877–1963) Bumble, 1957 Oil on wood panel With characteristic precision and affection, Francis Mabel Hollams captures the spirit of a beloved compani...
Category

1950s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Artist Materials On Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting beautifully captures a realistic view of an artist's studio. The boxes covered in oil paint fingerprints, the small dent in the wall, the palette, tubes of paint scatt...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

OIL PAINTING Small by William R Wall (NAVY ADMIRALTY 19th CENTURY PIECE
Located in Ferndown, GB
OIL PAINTING SMALL William Wall (NAVY ADMIRALTY 19th CENTURY Very good condition for age , (see pictures) FINE RARE MARTINE PAINTING ORIGINAL 19th Century OLD MASTER STYLE OIL PAI...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Hubert Henrard - 19th Century Belgian Still Life of wildflowers
Located in London, GB
HUBERT HENRARD (Belgium 1816-1898) Still Life with Cornflower and Harebells Signed l.r.: Hubert Henrard Oil on canvas Framed 25 by 20.5 cm., 10 by 8 in. (frame size 41.5 by 36.5 c...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands 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 29 x 23 inches As an artist of both classical and traditional style, Andrew Grant Kurtis excels in his paintings of...
Category

20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Windy Afternoon at Leo Carrillo Beach
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist UNFRAMED: 16" x 20" FRAMED: 25.5" x 29.5" x 1.75" Exhibited A Journey Along the California Coast, at the California Art Club Galle...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Is There Anyone Here?..
Located in Zofingen, AG
A cozy café with three visitors: two in dark attire, one figure in a checkered coat. The interior is understated with retro details, and soft blue light filters through the windows. ...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Portrait of Mrs William Tisdall Elsie Gardiner - British Edwardian oil painting
Located in London, GB
This superb large British Edwardian exhibited portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson. It was painted in 1909 and exhibite...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vidal Rolland 20 Roses Original Oil. painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Antonio Vidal Rolland (Barcelona, 1889 - 1970 Catalan painter. Disciple of José Ruiz Blasco father of Picasso a Lonja and Aleix Clapés. He started out as a sculptor. He participated,...
Category

1940s Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"L'intruso" Pappagallo Ara Olio cm. 50 x 65 2018
Located in Torino, IT
Bellissima opera realista, Pappagallo Ara Luisa Albert è una magistrale interprete della scuola realista vicino alla pittura fiaminga. Le nature morte e bellissimi animali vengono tr...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Spring Collection: Pocket Bluebells, Baroque Still Life, Flower art, Realism
Located in Deddington, GB
Spring Collection: Pocket Bluebells is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Small fragments of light" cm. 30 x 40 2024
Located in Torino, IT
Bright interior of ancient house with fireplace and white cat Luisa Albert was born in Turin, Italy where she currently lives and works. In 1989 she enrolled at the Istituto Europeo...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Realist Art Deco Framed Signed Young Woman Portrait Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
American school realist portrait oil painting. Framed. Oil on canvas. Signed. Image size, 20H by 16L.
Category

1940s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Spring Collection: Pocket Daffodil [2024], Baroque Still Life, flower
Located in Deddington, GB
Spring Collection: Pocket Daffodil is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to ...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Coastal Seascape Landscape Painting with Boats by 20th Century French Artist
By Pierre de Clausade
Located in Preston, GB
Coastal Seascape Landscape Painting with Boats by 20th Century French Artist, Pierre de Clausade (1910-1976). Oil on canvas, Signed on the lower ...
Category

20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil

OLD MASTER OIL PAINTING High Quality 19th CENTURY Calm Seas Gold Gilt Frame
Located in Ferndown, GB
OLD MASTER OIL PAINTING High Quality 19th CENTURY Cram Seas GGF Description OLD MASTER LARGE OIL PAINTING 19th Century NEW COLLECTION Of RARE PIECES OF ENGLISH HISTORY “Very Goo...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

HUGE OIL PAINTING By MAJOR John E .Bale FINE MASTER 19th Century BRITISH SCHOOL
Located in Ferndown, GB
OIL PAINTING SIGNED OLD FINE MASTER PAINTER 19th Century BRITISH SCHOOL Fine Original Antique 19th Century British OLD MASTER OIL PAINTING GOLD GILT FRAME NEW COLLECTION Of RARE ...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

OLD MASTER LARGE OIL PAINTING High Quality 19th CENTURY Catch Gold Gilt Frame
Located in Ferndown, GB
OLD MASTER OIL PAINTING High Quality 19th CENTURY The Catch GGF Description OLD MASTER LARGE OIL PAINTING 19th Century NEW COLLECTION Of RARE PIECES OF ENGLISH HISTORY “Very Goo...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

LARGE FINE ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY BY Francis E. Jamieson OLD SCOTTISH OIL PAINTING
Located in Ferndown, GB
LARGE FINE F E. Jamieson Antique 19th Century British OLD MASTER OIL PAINTING Description Good Condition canvas Cleaned & Re-vanished Ready to hang. frame is in wonderful condit...
Category

Early 20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Pine, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
"This work is a representation of the unadorned beauty of nature," shares artist Jose Luis Bermudez. The clear blue sky stre...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Signed Italian Oil Painting Realist Flowers in Pewter Vase, Peonies
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: Italian School, signed lower left, 20th century Title: Flowers in a Pewter Vase Medium: oil painting on board , framed Size: framed: 15.5 x 13.5 inches painting: ...
Category

20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Pocket Pale Blue Sloes [2023], Baroque Still Life Painting, Small art, Fruit art
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Pale Blue Sloes is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque stil...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"View of Samarkand"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Unidentified Artist, 20th Century – "View of Samarkand" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 106 x 73 cm (unframed), 130 x 92 cm (framed) Signature: Lower left corner (illegible) Pro...
Category

20th Century Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

14th and California
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
At an intersection in Santa Monica, silence holds sway beneath a rapturous composition of clouds at sunset.

About the Artist
Jesse’s scenes of Los ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Pocket Mauve Anemone 2 (c), Original Painting, Flower, Nature, Spring art
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Mauve Anemone 2 (c) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque ...
Category

2010s Realist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Paris : Winter Day at Montmartre - Original signed gouache painting - Cerificate
Located in Paris, IDF
Maurice UTRILLO Paris : Winter Day at Montmartre Original gouache painting Signed bottom right 40 x 32 cm at view (c. 16 x 13") Painted c. 1934-36 Presented in a golden wood frame ...
Category

1930s Realist Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Paper

Realist paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist paintings 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 paintings 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 Michael Budden, Su Yu, Olga Antonova, and Mark Hunter. 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 0.5 inches across are also available.

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