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Overview
What is Photorealism?
Late 1960s – 1970sPeriod
United StatesBegan in
12Key artists on this page
1Works with free images
Photorealism is a genre of art that encompasses painting, drawing and other graphic media, in which an artist studies a photograph and then attempts to reproduce the image as realistically as possible in another medium. Although the term can be used broadly to describe artworks in many different media, it is also used to refer to a specific art movement of American painters that began in the late 1960s and early 1970s.From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Original Art Movements text
This is the text that appeared on this page on the original Art Movements site. It is kept for reference; some statements are simplified or out of date. Where it differs from the overview, characteristics and dates above, which are checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata, trust those instead.
A figurative movement that emerged in the United States and Britain in the late 1960s and 1970s. The subject matter, usually everyday scenes, is portrayed in an extremely detailed, exacting style. It is also called superrealism, especially when referring to sculpture.
Sacramento Airport. 1970. by Ralph Goings, 1970 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Period
Late 1960s – 1970s
Began in
United States
Key artists
Richard Estes, Audrey Flack, Duane Hanson, Ralph Goings
Related
Postmodernism, Graffiti Art, Conceptual Art
How to recognise it
Key characteristics of Photorealism
Paintings based on photographs
Extreme detail and smooth finish
Everyday subjects: shop windows, cars, diners and portraits
Reflections and shiny surfaces
Techniques such as projection and grids
Timeline
When was Photorealism?
Photorealism is usually dated Late 1960s – 1970s, beginning in United States. Dates for art movements are approximate: artists joined and left, and styles overlapped.
Each bar shows an artist's life; the shaded band is the main period of Photorealism.
Duane Hanson
Ralph Goings
Audrey Flack
Richard Estes
Charles Bell
John Salt
Carolyn Brady
John Baeder
Don Eddy
Gonzalo Morales Sáurez
Robert Pérez Palou
Miervaldis Polis
Photorealism
1925–1996
1928–2016
1931–2024
born 1932
1935–1995
1937–2021
1937–2005
born 1938
born 1944
1945–2017
born 1948
1948–2026
19401960198020002020
Who
Key Photorealism artists
Artists linked to Photorealism in Wikidata, ordered by how widely they are covered on Wikipedia. Artists marked Art Icons have a full profile on our sister site.
4 questions drawn from this page, shuffled every time. Then try the full art movements quiz.
Watch
Photorealism explained: videos and tutorials
Hand-picked YouTube videos. They load only when you press play.
What is the point of photorealism? - Lachri
Lachri Fine Art · 3:57
From Photorealism to Hyperrealism: A Fascinating Artistic Evolution
Johnson Ocheja · 5:09
Photorealism Revisited
OKCMOA · 2:39
3 Ways to Achieve Photorealism | Oil Painting Made Easy
heather bradbury · 9:00
The Secret to Stunning Photorealistic Oil Painting
heather bradbury · 11:53
FAQ
Photorealism: common questions
What is Photorealism?
Paintings made from photographs with meticulous, camera-like precision.
When was Photorealism?
Photorealism: Late 1960s – 1970s. It began in United States. Dates for art movements are approximate.
What are the main characteristics of Photorealism?
Paintings based on photographs; Extreme detail and smooth finish; Everyday subjects: shop windows, cars, diners and portraits; Reflections and shiny surfaces; Techniques such as projection and grids.
Who are the most famous Photorealism artists?
Richard Estes, Audrey Flack, Duane Hanson, Ralph Goings, Don Eddy.
