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.
Apres Ski, Squaw Valley, Estate Edition, Snowscape Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A party of skiers adjourn for drinks at Squaw Valley, CA 1961, one year after the 1960 Winter Olympics. Olympic Valley, California is an unincorporated community located in Placer C...
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David Nightingale Hicks
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
April 1970—Interior designer David Nightingale Hicks (1929 - 1998) on Windermere Island in the Bahamas. David Nightingale Hicks Slim Aarons Es...
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Capote At Home, New York, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the author Truman Capote (1924 - 1984) relaxing with a book and a cigarette in his clutter...
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David Nightingale Hicks (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
April 1970—Interior designer David Nightingale Hicks (1929 - 1998) on Windermere Island in the Bahamas. David Nightingale Hicks Slim Aarons Es...
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David Nightingale Hicks (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
April 1970—Interior designer David Nightingale Hicks (1929 - 1998) on Windermere Island in the Bahamas. David Nightingale Hicks Slim Aarons Es...
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Slim Aarons 'David Nightingale Hicks' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
April 1970—Interior designer David Nightingale Hicks (1929 - 1998) on Windermere Island in the Bahamas. David Nightingale Hicks Slim Aarons Es...
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Capote At Home, New York, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the author Truman Capote (1924 - 1984) relaxing with a book and a cigarette in his clutter...
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Nice Pool, Palm Beach, Estate Edition Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features American writer C.Z. Guest (Mrs F.C. Winston Guest, 1920 - 2003) and her son Alexander Michael Dougl...
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Pool at Las Brisas, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An underwater view of the pool at the Las Brisas Hotel in Acapulco, Mexico, February 1972. A woman drinking from a coconut underwater in the pool at Las Brisas...
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Esther Williams, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features American swimmer and actress Esther Williams (1921 - 2013) lounging on a trampoline. This ...
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Snowmass Gathering, Colorado, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 1960s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features two women, wearing brightly-coloured skiwear, stand in the foreground of a group of people...
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Capote Cycling, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Slim Aarons Capote Cycling Slim Aarons Estate Edition 1970: Truman Capote (1924 - 1984) on his bicycle in Palm Springs, California. Author of several novels including 'Breakfast at ...
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Dmitris 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 Doric columns of the temple to Poseidon at Sounion, 1967 48 x 48 inches $4500 40 x 40 inches $3950 30 x 3...
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Slim Aarons: Esther Williams In Pool (Limited Edition Estate Stamped)
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
American actress and former swimming champion, Esther Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013), in a Florida swimming pool. 40 x 40 inches $3950 30 x 30 inches $3350 20 x 20 in...
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Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Lady Daphne Cameron (Mrs George Cameron) on a tiger skin rug in the trophy room at socialite Laddie Sanford's home in Palm Beach, Florida. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition o...
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Princess Ruspoli
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Princess Lucy Ruspoli stands in front of a colourful wall of old skis in Lech am Arlberg, Austria, February 1979. Slim Aarons worked mainly for society publications, taking picture...
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John Abbott - Osage
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 680 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Joan Collins Relaxes - (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Film star Joan Collins relaxes with her pink poodle on her pink bed. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. Slim Aaron...
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Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Lady Daphne Cameron (Mrs George Cameron) on a tiger skin rug in the trophy room at socialite Laddie Sanford's home in Palm Beach, Florida. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition o...
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Joan Collins Relaxes (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Film star Joan Collins relaxes with her pink poodle on her pink bed. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. Slim Aaron...
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Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Lady Daphne Cameron (Mrs George Cameron) on a tiger skin rug in the trophy room at socialite Laddie Sanford's home in Palm Beach, Florida. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition o...
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Julie London (Aarons Estate Print)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
1957: Singer Julie London enjoying breakfast in bed at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. S...
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Joan Collins Relaxes - (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Film star Joan Collins relaxes with her pink poodle on her pink bed. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. Slim Aaron...
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Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Lady Daphne Cameron (Mrs George Cameron) on a tiger skin rug in the trophy room at socialite Laddie Sanford's home in Palm Beach, Florida. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition o...
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Slim Aarons 'Sunbathing In Burgenstock'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons Sunbathing In Burgenstock 1955 C print estate edition of 150 Lilian Hanson, sunbathing by a pool at the Brgenstock Resort in Cant...
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Joan Collins Relaxes - (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Film star Joan Collins relaxes with her pink poodle on her pink bed. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. Slim Aaron...
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Slim Aarons 'Peggy Guggenheim at Palazzo Venier Dei Leoni, Venice'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
September 1978: Peggy Guggenheim (1898 - 1979) in the Palazzo Venier Dei Leoni, Venice. The palace houses her private art collection, including Picasso's 'On the Beach', pictured to ...
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Julie London (Aarons Estate Print)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
1957: Singer Julie London enjoying breakfast in bed at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authe...
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Slim Aarons 'Beauty and the Beast'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Lady Daphne Cameron (Mrs George Cameron) on a tiger skin rug in the trophy room at socialite Laddie Sanford's home in Palm Beach, Florida. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition o...
Lambda
Slim Aarons 'Joan Collins Relaxes'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Film star Joan Collins relaxes with her pink poodle on her pink bed. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity fro...
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Slim Aarons 'Sunbathing In Burgenstock'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons Sunbathing In Burgenstock 1955 C print estate edition of 150 Lilian Hanson, sunbathing by a pool at the Brgenstock Resort in Can...
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Princess Ruspoli
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Princess Lucy Ruspoli stands in front of a colourful wall of old skis in Lech am Arlberg, Austria, February 1979. Slim Aarons worked mainly for society publ...
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Slim Aarons 'Tania Mallet'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
1961: Actress Tania Mallet relaxes on a red-curtained four poster in Eleuthera, in the Bahamas. She is best known for her role as the unfortunate Tilly Ma...
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Minny Crushing Surfing
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
American society girl Minnie Cushing carries her surfboard under her arm, September 1965. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the e...
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Slim Aarons, Sunbathing In Burgenstock
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons Coral Beach, Bermuda, 1977. C print estate edition of 150 Lilian Hanson, sunbathing by a pool at the Brgenstock Resort in Canton Nidwalden, Switzerland, 1955. Estate s...
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Pevero Golf Corse
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons Pevero Golf Corse, 1978 C-print Estate edition of 150 1978, The Pevero Golf Course, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certif...
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Joan Collins Relaxes (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Film star Joan Collins relaxes with her pink poodle on her pink bed. Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenti...
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Peggy Guggenheim (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
September 1978: Peggy Guggenheim (1898 - 1979) in the Palazzo Venier Dei Leoni, Venice. The palace houses her private art collection, including Picass...
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Frank Sinatra, 1965 - Bob Willoughby (Portrait Photography)
Located in London, GB
Frank Sinatra, 1965 - Bob Willoughby (Portrait Photography) Archival pigment print Printed on 20 x 24 inch paper From an edition of 25 Also available in alternative sizes Bob Wi...
Archival Pigment
Intoxicated Skid Row Bowery Homeless, Gritty Street Photography
Located in Miami, FL
Enter the Wood Chipper. Before the Bowery was a trendy destination, it was America's most famous Skid Row. Vagrant flophouses, 10-dollar prostitutes, dive bars, and what used to be ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Dinosaur Parade
Located in Miami, FL
Dinosaur , Signed and dated on lower right, numbered on verso, Edition 2 of 15, Printed later. Unframed , Other sizes available Printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art paper
Photographic Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Big Jay McNeely, 1951 - Bob Willoughby (Portrait Photography)
Located in London, GB
Big Jay McNeely, 1951 - Bob Willoughby (Portrait Photography) Archival pigment print Printed on 20 x 24 inch paper From an edition of 25 Also available in alternative sizes Bob ...
Archival Pigment
Original Photography by Cyrille Druart
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Black and white original photography by Cyrille Druart. Edition: I/V Dimensions: 90 x 120 cm Cyrille Druart is a French photograph and architect, a book about his new series w...
Photographic Paper
Street People. Old Man On Park Bench New York City, Monochromatic
Located in Miami, FL
Street Photographer Mitchell Funk breaks with tradition and shoots street photography in color. Today in 2022, this does not seem like a big deal. But 52 years ago, in 1971, it was q...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Red Hat and Pink Hat with mandolin. East Village New York City
Located in Miami, FL
Colorful street life is capture with a color photograph, In 1970, very few photographers we actually shooting in color. This image celebrates color with its eye-popping red and magenta hats compliments by a pink door with graffiti. One of the give-a-ways to the date is the New York City street sign...
Inkjet
Surfing Brothers, Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1960s photograph, taken by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Freddie and Howard Cushing surfing with friends at Bailey's Beach (the Spouting Rock Beach Association)...
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Price Upon Request
Arranged Marriage
By Drew Tal
Located in New York, NY
With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram
Price Upon Request
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, 1962
Located in London, GB
Archival pigment print Printed on 20 x 24 inch paper From an edition of 15 Also available in alternative sizes Bob Willoughby is best-loved for his photojournalistic motion pictu...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Afghan Girl (Peshawar, Pakistan)
Located in New York, NY
Steve McCurry Afghan Girl 1984 (printed later C-print on Fuji Crystal archival paper 24 x 20 inches Signed and dated Steve McCurry has been one of the mos...
C Print