Photorealism

A style of art that hit Europe and the USA in the 1960s, photorealism is characterised by precise attention to detail that makes each piece look so real that it could have been captured by a camera.

With heightened clarity and visual complexity, leading artists of the photorealism movement rejected the emotion attached to many other artistic styles and instead focused their attention on the truth of the subject.

Some of the most famous artists connected to this movement include American artist and sculptor Duane Hanson who is best known for his life-sized people made in various materials including bronze resin and polyester.

Indian self-taught artist Rupesh Patric is also worthy of mention for his realistic charcoal depictions on canvas that were influenced by medieval, renaissance and surrealist work from the past.

There was something of a revival of photorealism in the late 1990s as new advancements in camera technology and digital equipment offered even greater precision. There are still many artists that favour this style to this day.

Here are a few examples of photorealism available to buy directly from Art2Arts.

 

Desert Dancer by Richard Young

 

 

Desert Dancer by Richard Young
Desert Dancer by Richard Young

With expert use of shade and movement, artist Richard Young gives us a realist depiction of a belly dancer performing with a black backdrop that enhances the realistic nature of the piece.

Created as oil on canvas, many people simply cannot believe that this large piece isn’t a photograph due to its exquisite attention to detail and realistic use of colour and shade.

 

Cherry Pyramid by Dietrich Moravec

 

Cherry Pyramid by Dietrich Moravec
Cherry Pyramid by Dietrich Moravec

The best way to describe this are the artist’s words: “What could be more tempting than fresh, juicy cherries with their shining red or yellowish skin? I cannot resist to paint them over and over again. “. If you have a look in his gallery, you will see other realistically painted fruits and cherries that invite you to pick them up. Which one would you choose?

 

Moon Shadows by Peter Williams

 

 

Moon Shadows by Peter Williams
Moon Shadows by Peter Williams

Mystical, magical and so detailed that it could have been captured by a camera, this powerful piece by artist Peter Williams perfectly encapsulates the power and majesty of this pair of wolves in the moonlight.

Every inch of this graphite on paper piece is beautifully detailed, making it a wonderful example of the photorealism genre.

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