Skip to main content

Realist Photography

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.

to
94
1,311
927
671
590
463
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
30
3,619
313
11
3
35
593
1,134
1,088
628
86
44,665
18,286
3,347
2,853
1,342
875
699
292
228
115
105
88
37
13
1,860
1,194
905
1,529
752
584
540
467
403
308
308
305
250
242
241
221
205
202
191
147
137
133
130
3,376
3,355
3,355
262
204
3,497
15
14
11
11
112
3,331
3,833
128
Style: Realist
Apres Ski, Squaw Valley, Estate Edition, Snowscape Photograph
Apres Ski, Squaw Valley, Estate Edition, Snowscape Photograph

Apres Ski, Squaw Valley, Estate Edition, Snowscape Photograph

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A party of skiers adjourn for drinks at Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley), CA 1961. The festive mood is reflected in the colorful vintage skiwear, in red, yellow, blue, white and orange. In the background, snowy white and tree-topped mountains rise against a brilliant blue sky. This iconic image of casual glamour sets a tone for winter adventure. This site was the host for the 1960...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

In Tandem
In Tandem

In Tandem

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original black and white photography by artist Jack Ludlam. Framed. Edition 1/3.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Photography

Materials

Film

Eggs and Slicer
Eggs and Slicer

Eggs and Slicer

By Edward Weston

Located in Buffalo, NY

Edward Weston (American, 1886-1958) Eggs and Slicer, 1930 Gelatin silver print, printed later by Cole Weston; signed, titled, dated and numbered '3E' by Cole Weston in pencil and 'Ed...

Category

1950s Realist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Monte Carlo Swimwear, Estate Edition
Monte Carlo Swimwear, Estate Edition

Monte Carlo Swimwear, Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A woman in a black cutaway swimsuit and turquoise scarf under a red, fringed umbrella in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in August 1970. In this classic Slim Aarons scene of 1970's vintage seaside glamour, a red umbrella with white fringe adds movement at the top right corner, and the subject's arms direct the viewer's eye across the picture in a zig-zag fashion. In the background, yellow and green umbrellas shade...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Harbour Isle Beach
Harbour Isle Beach

Harbour Isle Beach

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Holidaymakers on the deck of yacht in Saint-Tropez, France, August 1971. 40 x 60 inches $3950 30 x 40 inches $3350 20 x 30 inches $3000 10 x 12 inches $1350 Complimentary dealer...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Dining Al Fresco On Capri, Italy, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
Dining Al Fresco On Capri, Italy, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph

Dining Al Fresco On Capri, Italy, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This early-1980s photograph, taken by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Italian artist and actress Domiziana Giordano, Italian author Francesca Sanvitale (1928 - 2011), Dino Trappetti and Umberto Terrelli dining al fresco...

Category

1980s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Decked In Finery, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Decked In Finery, Slim Aarons Estate Edition

Decked In Finery, Slim Aarons Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

An unknown guest at a New Year's Eve party held at the Romanoff Restaurant in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and s...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Keep Your Cool (Backgammon in Acapulco) (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
Keep Your Cool (Backgammon in Acapulco) (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Keep Your Cool (Backgammon in Acapulco) (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Carmen Alvarez enjoying a game of backgammon with Frank 'Brandy' Brandstetter in a swimming pool at Acapulco, 1978. Slim Aarons Keep Your Cool (Backgammon in Acapulco) Chromogenic Lambda print Printed Later Slim Aarons Estate Edition Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Stamped and hand numbered by the Slim Aarons Estate. Certificate of Authenticity included. Collector will get the next number in the edition 72 x 48 inches $4900 60 x 40 inches $3950 40 x 30 inches $3350 30 x 20 inches $3000 Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Over the course of a career lasting half a century, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) portrayed high society, aristocracy, authors, artists, business icons, the celebrated and their milieu. In doing so, he captured a golden age of wealth, privilege, beauty and leisure that occurred alongside—but quite separate from—the cultural and political backdrop of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Photograph is unframed Slide show includes a close-up of the Slim Aarons estate's stamp. Collector will get the next number in the edition * We are pleased to offer the entire archive of the Slim Aarons Estate, offering the official Slim Aarons Estate Edition (only offered in this edition of 150). * Undercurrent Projects, New York, is proud to represent Aarons' full collection of negatives and transparencies. Housed at Getty Images Hulton Archive in London, The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints. Lambda printing gives true continuous tone. Internal: Slim Aarons Poolside Glamour Photography, Vintage Backgammon, Vintage Sport, Acapulco, Vintage Pools, Vintage Games...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Villa Vera
Villa Vera

Villa Vera

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The bar at the Villa Vera Hotel Spa and Racquet Club in Acapulco, January 1968. Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Undercurrent Projects is proud to offer thi...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

C Print

Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, framed
Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, framed

Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, framed

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Young women by the Canellopoulos penthouse pool, Athens, July 1961. Framed in white. Slim Aarons Penthouse Pool Chromogenic Lambda print Printed Later Slim Aarons Estate Edition Com...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

10-Speed (San Francisco 1970's Gay Castro photo)

10-Speed (San Francisco 1970's Gay Castro photo)

By Fisher Ross

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Fisher Ross 10-Speed, ca. 1977. Print measures 8 x 10 inches. 2026 digital print from the original in the Fisher Ross Archive. From an edition of 15 on archival paper produced by...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, Poolside Landscape with Acropolis, Athens Greece
Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, Poolside Landscape with Acropolis, Athens Greece

Penthouse Pool, Estate Edition, Poolside Landscape with Acropolis, Athens Greece

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Slim Aarons’s Penthouse Pool captures a sunlit moment of casual glamour at the Canellopoulos penthouse pool in Athens, Greece. Taken in July 1961, the photograph shows a group of you...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Beverly Hills Hotel Slide Print
Beverly Hills Hotel Slide Print

Beverly Hills Hotel Slide Print

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Cars parked outside the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard in California, 1957. Slim Aarons 1957, printed later C-type print on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper, Crisp detail, contin...

Category

1950s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Cocteau Collector, Slim Aarons Estate Edition
Cocteau Collector, Slim Aarons Estate Edition

Cocteau Collector, Slim Aarons Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

August 1982: Art collector Sylvia Coca sits in front of one of Jean Cocteau's murals in Marbella. (Photo by Slim Aarons/Getty Images) Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Auth...

Category

1980s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Laguna Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
Laguna Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Laguna Beach (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Surfers outside a beach hut in Laguna Beach, California, January 1970. Laguna Beach Slim Aarons Estate Print Chromogenic Lambda print with two certificates of authenticity 60 x 40 ...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Large Silver Gelatin Photograph Russian USSR Soviet Parade Yuri Gagarin Photo
Large Silver Gelatin Photograph Russian USSR Soviet Parade Yuri Gagarin Photo

Large Silver Gelatin Photograph Russian USSR Soviet Parade Yuri Gagarin Photo

By Samariy Gurariy

Located in Surfside, FL

Yuri Gagarin Meeting Workers at Foundry Stankolit, depicting the famous Russian cosmonaut (Moscow, 1961) Gelatin silver print, gloss finish, date of printing unknown. Provenance: acquired from the estate of photographer Samariy Gurariy...

Category

20th Century Realist Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

'Family Pool' Estate Edition
'Family Pool' Estate Edition

'Family Pool' Estate Edition

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

circa 1960: Mrs A Watson Armour III (Jean Schweppe) with friends and family enjoying the pool on their estate at Lake Forest, Illinois. A Wonderful Time - Slim Aarons Visual description: This iconic photograph features a charming, ivy-dotted pagoda and brilliant foliage, in crisp contrast to a shimmering turquoise pool. Umbrellas and deck chairs in green and tomato red accent the pool deck, and a bright red float draws the eye down the stairs and across the picture plane. Slim Aarons Family Pool Chromogenic Lambda print Printed Later Slim Aarons Estate Edition Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Stamped and hand numbered by the Slim Aarons Estate. Certificate of Authenticity included. Collector will get the next number in the edition 60 x 60 inches $5100 48 x 48 inches $4500 40 x 40 inches $3950 30 x 30 inches $3350 20 x 20 inches $2500 16 x 16 inches $2150 Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. Over the course of a career lasting half a century, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) portrayed high society, aristocracy, authors, artists, business icons, the celebrated and their milieu. In doing so, he captured a golden age of wealth, privilege, beauty and leisure that occurred alongside—but quite separate from—the cultural and political backdrop of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Photograph is unframed Slide show includes a close-up of the Slim Aarons estate's stamp. Collector will get the next number in the edition * We are pleased to offer the entire archive of the Slim Aarons Estate, offering the official Slim Aarons Estate Edition (only offered in this edition of 150). * Undercurrent Projects, New York, is proud to represent Aarons' full collection of negatives and transparencies. Housed at Getty Images Hulton Archive in London, The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints. Lambda printing gives true continuous tone. Internal: Slim Aarons Lake Forest, Vintage Poolside Glamour, Vintage Sport, Swimming, Vintage Holiday, 60s, vintage Illinois...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Party In Bermuda, Estate Edition (1970 on the Yacht Ondine in yellow and red)
Party In Bermuda, Estate Edition (1970 on the Yacht Ondine in yellow and red)

Party In Bermuda, Estate Edition (1970 on the Yacht Ondine in yellow and red)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Slim Aarons's iconic photograph of 70's vintage seagoing glamour, captured onboard the wood-trimmed deck of the yacht 'Ondine' in Bermuda, June 1970. Figures in the foreground are offset by cheery yellow and red. A United States yacht ensign flag flies the foreground, alongside the flag of Scania, the flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns (an unofficial red flag with a yellow cross used in the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland to represent the Finland-Swedes., which may be flown in addition to the Finnish blue and white flag). Guests wear coral, navy, pastels, and whites, including classic vintage Pucci. The ship's name and home marina of New York are stenciled in gold on the white hull. Slim Aarons Party in Bermuda...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Saint-Tropez Boucherie' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

Slim Aarons 'Saint-Tropez Boucherie' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A boucherie on Rue des Commercants in Saint-Tropez, on the French Riviera, August 1971. Slim Aarons St-Tropez Boucherie Complimentary dealer shipping to your framer, worldwide. 60 x 40 inches $3950 40 x 30 inches $3350 30 x 20 inches $3000 Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. Chromogenic Lambda print from the original transparency Over the course of a career lasting half a century, Slim Aarons (1916-2006) portrayed high society, aristocracy, authors, artists, business icons, the celebrated and their milieu. In doing so, he captured a golden age of wealth, privilege, beauty and leisure that occurred alongside—but quite separate from—the cultural and political backdrop of the second half of the Twentieth Century. The Slim Aarons Estate has released the limited Estate edition as a Lambda print, which is a modern c-type prints. They have chosen Lambda prints for their sharpness, clarity, colour saturation and quality, compared to archival inkjet prints. Lambda printing gives true continuous tone. Photograph is unframed Slide show includes a close-up of the Slim Aarons estate's stamp. Collector will get the next number in the edition * We are pleased to offer the entire archive of the Slim Aarons Estate, offering the official Slim Aarons Estate Edition (only offered in this edition of 150). Please contact us for additional photographs from Slim Aarons * Undercurrent Projects offers premium quality photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Getty Images Gallery, London. Photographs are printed utilizing the original transparency held at the archive source. Internal: Vintage Saint-Tropez, Vintage French Riviera photography...

Category

1970s Realist Photography

Materials

Lambda

Acapulco Lunch
Acapulco Lunch

Acapulco Lunch

By Slim Aarons

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A long afternoon lunch at Acapulco. Among the guest are (from left to right) film star Douglas Fairbanks Junior (1909 - 2000), couturiers Oscar de la Renta, and standing behind him E...

Category

1960s Realist Photography

Materials

C Print

Realist photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist photography 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 photography 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, red, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Slim Aarons, Pico Garcez, Kind of Cyan, and Massimo Listri. Frequently made by artists working with Digital Print, and Lambda Print 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 photography, so small editions measuring 3.94 inches across are also available. Prices for photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $105 and tops out at $75,000, while the average work sells for $3,000.