Realism and Photorealistic Paintings for Sale

Realism began in France in the 19th century to challenge the idealized and romanticized images dominating the art world. Following the French Revolution, painters focused more on ordinary people and everyday scenes. Although subjects in Realist art are easily recognizable, viewers still know it is an art piece. On the other hand, Photorealism paintings portray a scene as if it were a photograph. This style of painting grew in popularity during the rise of advertising and color photography in the 1960s and as an answer to the fame of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Reflecting the social and technological situation of their time, artists depict reality with their own methods and intentions.

Gustave Courbet (1819 to 1877), the founder of Realism, used heavy brushstrokes and palette knife work to depict the harsh everyday life of ordinary people. Before him, painters only made high art, romanticizing the lives of historical figures and noble individuals and hiding their imperfections.

Chuck Close (1940 to 2021), a pioneer of Photorealism, used grids in his larger-than-life portraits. He suffered from face blindness, a condition that made it difficult to recognize and remember people's faces. His Photorealist paintings were his way of committing faces to memory. His detailed works also became a bridge to Hyperrealism.

Marilyn Minter (born 1948) paints Hyperrealist close-up images of body parts to examine the perception of beauty, female empowerment, and sexuality in modern culture. She digitally alters photographs and uses them as references in her painting.

Realist art isn’t just decoration—it can be a statement that fosters intrigue, familiarity, and nostalgia in your space. Displaying it can enhance the mood and atmosphere of your home.

The living room is a gathering area, and hanging a large, hyper-detailed portrait will spark conversation among guests. A painting of a familiar landscape can create a welcoming and nostalgic feel in hallways and entryways. Nature-inspired art, such as seascapes or forest scenes in your bathroom, aligns with good Feng Shui. A realistic scene of animals complements a nursery. For a more personal touch, commission a realistic portrait of your family or pets from established or emerging artists.

Beyond choosing the right subject, the key to elevating your space with realist art—or any style—lies in placement, lighting, and framing. Position the artwork at eye level, install a gallery-style spotlight for larger pieces, and select ornate frames for a classical interior or minimal frames for a modern home.

Donald and Doris Fisher, founders of the clothing brand GAP, were two of the biggest private collectors of contemporary art. The couple started collecting art prints in the 1960s to decorate their company headquarters. As their business grew, so did their art collection. They acquired over a thousand artworks from different styles, from Pop Art to Photorealism.

One of the famous Photorealist artists in their collection is the German painter Gerhard Richter. Among the 26 paintings they owned from Richter, one held a deep personal meaning for their family. Zwei Kerzen is an oil painting of two candles, and for the Fisher children, it represents their parents. Their sons recalled that Donald removed the painting from their San Francisco home every summer and personally transported and hung it in their vacation house. He did it even into his 70s. Wherever Donald went, the painting stayed with him. Their entire art collection is now permanently displayed at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The power of realism does not solely rely on the artist's truthful depiction of a subject but also on the meaning viewers attach to it. Like the two candles, Donald and Doris Fisher remain the light in their children's lives.