An art style that focuses on making pieces look as realistic and true-to-life as possible, realism dates back to a 19th-century movement that developed in France and sought to depict the world in its truest possible form via real-life events and subjects in a naturalistic style.
Realism became an important movement in the art world during this period as a stark contrast and reaction to the many romanticised pieces of art that came before, and there was much controversy caused by some of the paintings that depicted life in its rawest, and often most brutal form.
A term coined by French artist Gustave Courbet in 1855 during a private exhibition after a jury rejected his pieces citing them as vulgar and dull, realism took hold amongst artists all over the globe and has provided a creative style to many of the world’s best-known pieces of art.
From The Horse Fair by artist Rosa Bonheur in 1853 to the more modern Nighthawks by Edward Hopper in 1942, works of realism are being produced by up and coming new artists every day showcasing that the style is very much still part of the art world today.
Here are just a few of our favourite pieces of realism art created by Art2Arts artists.
Daily Walk #8 by Jing Tian
Part of the new Daily Walk series, artist Jing Tian uses watercolour paints to capture the realism of the relationship between man and his best friend during a daily walk.
Perfectly capturing the essence of the everyday, this piece is ideal for lovers of watercolours, realism and fans of our four-legged friends.
Rosa Eglantine by Zoe Elizabeth Norman
So realistic you can almost feel the silky soft petals and breathe in their sweet scent, Rosa Eglantine took more than 50 hours of focused painting to achieve the level of realism the artists wanted to celebrate this stunning botanical.
Ideal for neutral or pastel colour pallets, this soft watercolour piece is a true celebration of spring and the life it brings.
Affectionate Waves by Iryna Kastsova
Ocean lovers or fans of seascapes will enjoy the photo perfect realism captured by artist Iryna Kastsova in her piece ‘Affectionate Waves’.
Capturing the very moment that two waves crash together before merging into one fluid being, this piece evokes feelings of romance, sun-kissed holidays and travel thanks to the reflected lights and ocean hues.
