1963
Painter and draftsman Ian Hornak created vivid hyperrealist and Photorealist works, and was celebrated for his visionary incorporation of multiple-exposure photography into his landscape paintings.
The subject matter at the heart of the world’s finest Photorealist works flickers between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, and Hornak’s representational art is just as compelling, enveloping the viewer with rich imagery and vibrant colors.
The painter was born John Francis Hornak in Philadelphia to Slovakian immigrants who moved to New York when he was still an infant. He became enamored of visual art at an early age — for his ninth birthday, Hornak received a set of oil paints and a book about Renaissance paintings. He reproduced many of the book’s photos of the works of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and others so well that they looked like the photographs themselves.
Hornak studied art at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. After earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in fine arts, he moved to New York City in 1968 and befriended Lowell Nesbitt. The realist artist introduced him to Willem de Kooning, Robert Motherwell, Robert Indiana and others. Hornak resisted the Abstract Expressionist and Pop styles of the era, instead creating work that was noted for its Surrealist and even Romantic elements.
In 1970, Hornak debuted his first paintings in his multiple-exposure style. A year later, the Tibor de Nagy Gallery hosted his first New York City solo exhibition, and his prominence in the art world grew. From 1986 until his death in 2002, Hornak produced botanical and still-life paintings inspired by Flemish and Dutch masters.
Hornak’s work can be found in the permanent collections of many institutions, such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the Library of Congress.
On 1stDibs, find authentic Ian Hornak paintings, drawings, prints and more.
Renaissance Female Nude Figure Study, 1963, Ian Hornak — Drawing
By Ian Hornak
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Renaissance Female Nude Study Year: circa 1963 Medium: Original drawing on vélin Strathmore paper Size: 23 x 18 inches Condition: Good Provenanc...
Graphite
Renaissance Female Nude Figure Study, 1963, Ian Hornak — Drawing
By Ian Hornak
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Renaissance Female Nude Study Year: circa 1963 Medium: Original drawing on vélin Strathmore paper Size: 23 x 18 inches Condition: Good Provenanc...
Graphite
Renaissance Female Nude Figure Study, 1963, Ian Hornak — Drawing
By Ian Hornak
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Renaissance Female Nude Study Year: circa 1963 Medium: Original drawing on vélin paper Size: 23 x 18 inches Condition: Good Provenance: Estate o...
Charcoal
Renaissance Female Nude Figure Study, 1963, Ian Hornak — Drawing
By Ian Hornak
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Renaissance Female Nude Figure Study Year: circa 1963 Medium: Original drawing on archival paper Size: 23 x 18 inches Condition: Good Provenance...
Charcoal, Archival Paper
Renaissance Female Nude Figure Study, 1963, Ian Hornak — Drawing
By Ian Hornak
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Renaissance Female Nude Study Year: circa 1963 Medium: Original drawing on vélin Strathmore paper Size: 23 x 18 inches Condition: Good Provenanc...
Graphite
Renaissance Female Nude Figure Study, 1963, Ian Hornak — Drawing
By Ian Hornak
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Renaissance Female Nude Study Year: circa 1963 Medium: Original drawing on vélin Strathmore paper Size: 23 x 18 inches Condition: Good Provenanc...
Charcoal
"Nude Sketch No. 3" early academic figure drawing by Ben Fenske, unframed
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An academic drawing of a female nude figure sitting atop a flat surface. He highlights the body with white chalk. She leans on one arm and the other rests behind her torso. Artist B...
Paper, Charcoal
Mid Century French School Double Sided Nude Figure Studies Drawing
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French School Double Sided Nude Figure Studies Drawing Medium: Charcoal and graphite on paper, unframed Size: 19.75 x 25.5 inches (height x width) Provenance: priv...
Charcoal, Graphite
Mid Century French School Female Nude Figure and Portrait Study Drawing
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French School Female Nude Figure and Portrait Study Drawing Medium: Charcoal and graphite on paper, unframed Size: 25.5 x 19.75 inches (height x width) Provenance: private collection Condition: Good overall with visible age toning creasing fold lines minor edge wear and small paper losses to lower corners consistent with age and studio handling Description: A refined mid century French School academic life drawing featuring both a standing female nude figure and a separate portrait head study rendered in charcoal and graphite. This dual composition demonstrates traditional atelier practice, combining anatomical figure study with focused facial observation on a single sheet. The standing nude is drawn with confident contour lines and soft tonal modelling, the body shown in a relaxed contrapposto stance that emphasises natural proportion and balance. Subtle cross hatching builds volume through the torso and legs, while darker charcoal accents define structure and shadow. To the upper left, the portrait head study provides additional depth and psychological presence. The artist carefully renders facial planes and expression through layered charcoal shading, revealing disciplined observational training. The inclusion of both figure and portrait elevates the academic interest of the work beyond a simple life study. Likely produced during a formal life drawing session in a mid twentieth century French atelier, the sheet retains visible paper toning and handling wear that reinforce its authenticity. This composition will appeal to collectors of mid century modern works on paper, French academic nude...
Charcoal, Graphite
Mid Century French Charcoal Two Female Nude Academic Figure Study
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Charcoal Two Female Nude Academic Figure Study Medium: Charcoal on paper, unframed Size: 25.75 x 19.75 inches (height x width) Signature: Initials and date ...
Charcoal, Graphite
Nude Woman - Drawing by Jean Chapin- 1950s
By Jean Chapin
Located in Roma, IT
Nude Woman is a pencil and charcoal drawing realized by Jean Chapin in the 1950s. Signature stamp on the yellowed paper. Good condition, except for slight folding.
Charcoal, Pencil
Figure - Modern Pencil Drawing on Paper, Nude Woman, 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
"Figure" is an original pencil drawing on paper glued on ivory-colored cardboard, by an Anonymous Artist of XX Century. In excellent conditions: as good as new. Sheet dimension: 65...
Pencil
