A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design.
Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story.
The virtues of the “photo” in Photorealist art — infused as they are with dazzling qualities that are easily blurred in reproduction — are as elusive as they are allusive. “Much Photorealist painting has the vacuity of proportion and intent of an idiot-savant, long on look and short on personal timbre,” John Arthur wrote (rather admiringly) in the catalogue essay for Realism/Photorealism, a 1980 exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At its best, Photorealism is a perpetually paused tug-of-war between the sacred and the profane, the general and the specific, the record and the object.
“Robert Bechtle invented Photorealism, in 1963,” says veteran art dealer Louis Meisel. “He took a picture of himself in the mirror with the car outside and then painted it. That was the first one.”
The meaning of the term, which began for Meisel as “a superficial way of defining and promoting a group of painters,” evolved with time, and the core group of Photorealists slowly expanded to include younger artists who traded Rolleiflexes for 60-megapixel cameras, using advanced digital technology to create paintings that transcend the detail of conventional photographs.
On 1stDibs, the collection of Photorealist art includes work by Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Chuck Close, Audrey Flack, Charles Bell and others.
Steam, Signed Lithograph by Wayne Cooper
By Wayne Cooper
Located in Long Island City, NY
Steam by Wayne Cooper, (1942 - ) Date: circa 1980 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 300 Image Size: 20 x 30 inches Size: 24 in. x...
Lithograph
"Land Fall" by John Gibson (Balls, Geometric, Blue, Colorful, Screen print)
Located in New York, NY
This print has a deep blue background and brightly colored red and orange billiards balls. John Gibson has been painting delicate still-life arrangements of balls since the 1990s. T...
Screen
Bi-Plane, Photorealist Screenprint by Ted Wilbur
Located in Long Island City, NY
Ted Wilbur, American (1930 - 2019) - Bi-Plane, Year: 1981, Medium: Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 250, Size: 22 in. x 26 in. (55.88 cm x 66.04 cm)
Screen
$4,500Sale Price|40% Off
Mustang Sally Forth, Large Photorealist Art Screenprint by Ron Kleemann
By Ron Kleemann
Located in Long Island City, NY
A large framed screenprint by Pop Artist Ron Kleemann of a shiny chrome prop plane, parked on a tarmac glistening with rainwater. The title "Mustang Sally Forth...
Screen
Alfa Romeo, Photorealist Classic Car Screenprint by Phyllis Krim
By Phyllis Krim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Alfa Romeo Phyllis Krim, American (1930–2014) Date: circa 1979 Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition of 200, AP 30 Image Size: 22 x 22 inches Size: 26 in. x 26 in. (66.0...
Screen
Bentley, Photorealist Classic Car Screenprint by Phyllis Krim
By Phyllis Krim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Bentley Phyllis Krim, American (1930–2014) Date: 1978 Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition of 200, AP 20 Image Size: 22 x 22 inches Size: 26 in. x 26 in. (66.04 cm x 66...
Screen
Death of Dale Earnhardt II
Located in New York, NY
Lithograph on Rives BFK 350gm paper Printer's proof (Edition of 6) This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Lithograph
House With Trailer
By John Baeder
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: John Baeder Title: House With Trailer Medium: Screenprint Signed: Hand Signed Year: 1979 Edition: Edition of 200 Measurements: 22" x 30" Frame: This piece is sold UNFRA...
Screen
"Double Bubble" silkscreen by Photorealist painter Charles Bell Edition of 150
By Charles Bell
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Double Bubble" silkscreen of gumball machine by Photorealist painter Charles Bell. Hand-numbered 117/150 in pencil in front lower left corner. Hand-signed Charles Bell in pencil in ...
Screen
Duesenberg, Photorealist Classic Car Screenprint by Phyllis Krim
By Phyllis Krim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Duesenberg Phyllis Krim, American (1930–2014) Date: 1978 Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition of AP 30 Image Size: 22 x 22 inches Size: 26 in. x 26 in. (66.04 cm x 66.0...
Screen
White Knight, 1980 Signed Screenprint by Ron Kleemann
By Ron Kleemann
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Ron Kleemann, American (1937 - ) Title: White Knight Year: 1980 Medium: Screenprint on Somerset Paper, signed and numbered in pencil Edition Size: 250 Paper Size: 22 x 30 inches
Screen
Austria Voralberg Alps original vintage skiing travel poster Silvretta
Located in London, GB
To see our other original vintage travel posters, many of which have Austrian subjects, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller" - or s...
Lithograph
Robert Cottingham Photorealist Screenprint, Signed, 2009, Rialto, American Signs
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Robert Cottingham Title: Rialto, from American Signs Medium: Screenprint in colors Year: 2009 Edition: HC 5/10 Sheet Size: 40" x 39" Signed: Hand signed and numbered
Screen
Art, from American Signs portfolio
Located in New York, NY
ROBERT COTTINGHAM Art, from American Signs portfolio, 2009 screenprint in colors, on wove paper, with full margins, 40 1/8 x 39 1/8 in (101.9 x 99.4 cm) signed, dated `2009' and...
Screen
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Lithograph, Mid-20th Century Art
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing by Harold Cleword, Poster Art 28 x 22 Stunning for an office, bedroom, rec room or garage!
Lithograph
Original Austria Photographic Travel Poster Vienna Musee des Beaux Arts
By Albert Herndl
Located in London, GB
To see our other original vintage travel posters, many of which are from Austria, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us...
Lithograph
Vista Mar Inn
By John Baeder
Located in Hollywood, FL
rtist: John Baeder Title: Vista Mar Inn Medium: Screenprint Signed: Hand Signed Edition: From the edition of 250 Measurements: 22" x 30" Note: This piece is sold UNFRAMED Condi...
Screen
Yankee Clipper
By John Baeder
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: John Baeder Title: Yankee Clipper Medium: Screenprint Signed: Hand Signed Edition: From the edition of 250 Measurements: 22" x 30" Note: Th...
Screen
$2,250Sale Price|30% Off
Empire
Located in Miami, FL
Robert Cottingham (1935) Empire 2008 Screenprint in colors Image: 25.625 h x 39.875 w in (65 x 101 cm) Sheet: 32.75 h x 46 w in (83 x 117 cm) Signed, titled, dated and numbered to ...
Lithograph
AJ Foyt Cartwheel, Photorealist Screenprint by Ron Kleemann
By Ron Kleemann
Located in Long Island City, NY
Ron Kleemann, American (1937 - 2014) - AJ Foyt Cartwheel, Year: 1977, Medium: Screenprint, signed, numbered and dated in pencil, Edition: 175, Image Size: 20 x 29.75 inches, Si...
Screen
Death of Dale Earnhardt I
Located in New York, NY
Lithograph on Rives BFK 350gm paper Printer's proof (Edition of 6) This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Lithograph
Straight Shot, Screenprint by Ron Kleeman
By Ron Kleemann
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Ron Kleemann, American (1937 - ) Title: Straight Shot Year: 1980 Medium: Screenprint on Somerset Paper, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 250 Paper Size: 22 x 30 inches
Screen
Celestial
By Sarah Duncan
Located in Deddington, GB
Celestial by Sarah Duncan [2021] limited_edition Screen print on paper Edition number 20 Image size: H:60 cm x W:60 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:70 cm x W:70 cm x D:0.2cm So...
Paper, Screen
$2,495
Robert Cottingham Screenprint, Photorealistic, 2009, Fox, American Signs
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Robert Cottingham Title: Fox, from American Signs Medium: Screenprint in colors Year: 2009 Edition: HC 2/10 Sheet Size: 40" x 39" Signed: Hand signed and numbered
Screen
Lisi's Pittsfield Diner
By John Baeder
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: John Baeder Title: Lisi's Pittsfield Diner Medium: Screenprint Signed: Hand Signed Year: 1980 Edition: Edition of 250 Measurements: 22" x 30" Frame: This piece is sold ...
Screen
Chicken Chops
By John Baeder
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: John Baeder Title: Chicken Chops Medium: Screenprint Signed: Hand Signed Edition: From the edition of 250 Measurements: 22" x 30" Note: This piece is sold UNFRAMED Cond...
Screen
Reflection
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Ching Jang Yao Title: Reflection Medium: Screenprint Signed: Hand Signed Edition: Edition of 250 Measurements: 28" x 23 1/2" Frame: This piece is sold UNFRAMED Conditio...
Screen
Original Vienna Austria Photographic Travel Poster Eglise des Freres Mineurs
Located in London, GB
To see our other original vintage travel posters, many of which are from Austria, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us a message if you cannot find the poster you want. Anton Tusch (photographer) Eglise des Freres...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Hi Fi, from American Signs portfolio
Located in New York, NY
ROBERT COTTINGHAM HI FI, from American Signs portfolio, 2009 screenprint in colors, on wove paper, with full margins, 40 1/8 x 39 1/8 in (101.9 x 99.4 cm) signed, dated `2009' a...
Screen
Price Upon Request
Drinks, from American Signs portfolio
Located in New York, NY
ROBERT COTTINGHAM Drinks, from American Signs portfolio, 2009 screenprint in colors, on wove paper, with full margins 40 1/8 x 39 1/8 in (101.9 x 99.4 cm) signed, dated `2009...
Screen
Price Upon Request
Star, from American Signs Portfolio
Located in New York, NY
ROBERT COTTINGHAM Star, from American Signs portfolio, 2009 screenprint in colors, on wove paper, with full margins, 40 1/8 x 39 1/8 in (101.9 x 99.4 cm) signed, dated `2009' and numbered edition of 100 in pencil -- Robert Cottingham B. 1935, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Born in 1935 in Brooklyn, Robert Cottingham is known for his paintings and prints of urban American landscapes, particularly building facades, neon signs, movie marquees, and shop fronts. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1955 through 1958, he earned a BFA at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, in 1963. Cottingham began his professional artistic career as an art director for the advertising firm Young and Rubicam in the early 1960s. Although he is typically associated with Photorealism, Cottingham never considered himself a Photorealist, but rather a realist painter working in a long tradition of American vernacular scenes. In this respect, his work often draws parallels to a number of American painters such as Stuart Davis, Charles Demuth, Edward Hopper, and Charles Sheeler. Cottingham’s interest in the intersections of art and commerce derive from his career as an adman and the influence of Pop art. Many of his paintings convey an interest in typography and lettering, as well as an awareness of the psychological impact of certain isolated words and letters. In his facades, techniques from advertising, namely cropping and enlarging, often produce words of enigmatic or comical resonance such as “Art,” “Ha,” or “Oh.” Cottingham’s enlarged sense of scale is reminiscent of James Rosenquist’s work, while his interest in text suggests the influence of Robert Indiana and Jasper Johns. In general, Cottingham viewed his work as continuing the legacy of Pop artists such as Andy Warhol, who also had a background in advertising. In 1964, Cottingham relocated to Los Angeles for work. There, inspired by the drastically different environment of the West Coast metropolis, he began to commit seriously to painting. Fascinated by Hollywood’s exaggerated glitz and the downtrodden atmosphere of the downtown, Cottingham saw in Los Angeles the relics of a bygone commercial heyday and desired to capture its kitschy and uncanny atmosphere, bathed in the near perpetual sunlight of Southern California. In 1968, Cottingham ended his advertising career in order to devote all his time to painting. In the late 1960s, he started using photography in his practice, first as an initial reference point for his process. After selecting a photograph, he translates it into black-and-white drawings by projecting the image onto gridded paper...
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