--- title: "Art Photorealism" url: https://artgalerie.com.br/art-photorealism/ author: SEO Marcos Muniz date: 2025-11-28T15:00:59+00:00 categories: [Art Photorealism] tags: [Art Photorealism] --- # Art Photorealism Art [**Photorealism**](https://artgalerie.com.br/page-category-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. Emerging in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, it was a counter-movement to [**Abstract Expressionism**](https://artgalerie.com.br/page-category-furniture-making/) and Minimalism. While [**Abstract Expressionism**](https://artgalerie.com.br/page-category-furniture-making/) was about spontaneous emotion, [**Photorealism**](https://artgalerie.com.br/page-category-photorealism/) was about calculated, mechanical precision. Here is a minute, detailed breakdown of the movement. ## ***1. The Core Philosophy: “The Camera is the Subject”*** The most important thing to understand about [**Photorealism**](https://artgalerie.com.br/page-category-photorealism/) is that the artist is not painting reality; they are painting a photograph of reality. The Intermediary: In traditional realism (like the Renaissance), the artist looks at a tree and paints a tree. In Photorealism, the artist takes a photo of a tree, develops the photo, and then paints the photo. Camera Artifacts: Photorealists intentionally replicate the flaws of the camera, such as: Depth of Field: If the background of the photo is blurry (out of focus), the artist paints it blurry. Halation: The way light spreads around bright objects on film. Lens Flare: The reflection of light within the camera lens. Objectivity: The goal is usually to be emotionally neutral. The artist acts as a human camera, transcribing visual data without “interpreting” it or adding emotional brushstrokes. ## ***2. The “Meisel Rules”*** In 1969, art dealer Louis K. Meisel coined the term “Photorealism” and established a five-point definition to distinguish true Photorealists from regular realistic painters: 1. The Photo-Realist uses the camera and photograph to gather information. 2. The Photo-Realist uses a mechanical or semi-mechanical means to transfer the information to the canvas (e.g., a grid or projector). 3. The Photo-Realist must have the technical ability to make the finished work look photographic. 4. The artist must have exhibited work as a Photo-Realist by 1972 to be considered a founder. 5. The artist must have devoted at least five years to the development and performance of these techniques. ## ***3. The Technical Process*** Photorealism requires immense patience and technical skill. The process is often more important than the subject. ### ***A. The Source Material*** The artist acts as a photographer first. They take hundreds of slides (transparencies) to find the perfect composition. They look for high-contrast lighting and complex surfaces (glass, chrome, metal) that show off technical skill. ### ***B. The Transfer Method*** To ensure perfect proportions, the artist transfers the image to the canvas using one of two methods: The Grid System: A grid is drawn on the photo and a corresponding grid on the canvas. The artist paints one tiny square at a time. This breaks the image down into abstract shapes of color, preventing the brain from “guessing” what the object looks like. Slide Projection: The artist projects the photographic slide directly onto the canvas in a dark room and traces the details. ### ***C. The Painting Technique*** The Airbrush: Many Photorealists (like Paul Sarkisian and Chuck Close) used an airbrush. This sprays a fine mist of paint, eliminating brushstrokes. This mimics the smooth, grain-less look of a glossy photograph. Layers: They work in thin, transparent glazes of oil or acrylic. They do not use “impasto” (thick texture). The surface of a Photorealist painting is usually dead flat. [![Art Photorealism](https://artgalerie.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Art-Photorealism-1-300x202.png)](https://artgalerie.com.br/)**Art Photorealism** ## ***4. Typical Subject Matter*** The movement is heavily associated with Americana and the post-war consumer landscape. Reflective Surfaces: Storefront windows, diners with neon signs, glass bottles, and silverware. The complexity of painting a reflection within a reflection was a favorite challenge (e.g., Richard Estes). Vehicles: Motorcycles, pickup trucks, and cars with shiny chrome bumpers (e.g., Ralph Goings, Tom Blackwell). The Banal: Ketchup bottles, salt shakers, gumball machines, and toys. Portraits: Extreme close-ups of faces, showing every pore, wrinkle, and stray hair (e.g., Chuck Close). ## ***5. The Key Artists (The Big Four)*** ### ***A. Richard Estes (The Master of Reflections)*** He is famous for painting New York City street scenes. Style: He focuses on glass storefronts and the reflections of the street in them. His paintings are often sharper than a photograph because he would combine multiple photos to ensure everything from the foreground to the background was in perfect focus. Key Work: Telephone Booths (1967). ### ***B. Chuck Close (The Portraitist)*** He painted massive (9-foot tall) portraits of his friends and family (and himself). Motivation: Close suffered from prosopagnosia (face blindness). He painted faces to force himself to commit them to memory. Technique: He used a strict grid. In his later career (after being paralyzed), he filled the grid squares with abstract blobs of color that form a realistic face only when viewed from a distance. Key Work: Big Self-Portrait (1967-1968). ### ***C. Audrey Flack (The Emotional Realist)*** One of the few women in the movement. She broke the “cool, detached” rule. Style: She painted “Vanitas” still lifes—collections of jewelry, makeup, hourglasses, and skulls. Technique: She was the first Photorealist to use the airbrush extensively. She projected slides directly onto the canvas. Key Work: Marilyn (Vanitas). ### ***D. Ralph Goings (The Chronicler of California)*** He painted the quiet, sun-drenched culture of California. Subjects: Pickup trucks, diner counters with ketchup and mustard bottles, and Airstream trailers. Style: His work is exceptionally smooth and luminous, capturing the specific quality of California morning light. ## ***6. Photorealism vs. Hyperrealism*** These terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a distinction. Feature Photorealism (1960s/70s) Hyperrealism (2000s–Present) Tool Analog Camera | Film Digital Camera | High-Res Sensors Look mimics a photo (grain, blur) Sharper than the human eye (HD) Emotion Detached, neutral, objective Narrative, emotional, social commentary Medium Mostly Paint Paint + Silicone Sculpture (Ron Mueck) ## ***7. Legacy and Criticism*** Photorealism was initially hated by critics. They called it “mindless copying” and argued that if you wanted a photo, you should just take a photo. The Defense: Photorealists argued that their art was about perception. By forcing the viewer to look at a mundane object (like a ketchup bottle) for a long time, the object becomes monumental and abstract. Today: It remains popular with the public because of the sheer “wow factor” of the technical skill involved. It paved the way for modern digital art and high-definition aesthetics. - [Art Galerie Marketplace](https://artgalerie.com.br/) ### Route Your location: No route could be calculated. ### Art Galerie Marketplace 5 Brayford Sq, Stepney Green London E1 0SG United Kingdom (UK)Phone: [+55 31 99806-4815](tel:+5531998064815) Additional phone number: [+55 31 99806-4815](tel:+5531998064815) Email: [service@artgalerie.com.br](mailto:service@artgalerie.com.br) URL: [https://artgalerie.com.br/](https://artgalerie.com.br/) | Monday | Open 24 hours | | --- | --- | | Tuesday | Open 24 hours | | Wednesday | Open 24 hours | | Thursday | Open 24 hours **Open now** | | Friday | Open 24 hours | | Saturday | Open 24 hours | | Sunday | Open 24 hours | [![Art Photorealism](https://artgalerie.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Art-Photorealism-2-300x197.png)](https://artgalerie.com.br/)Art Photorealism # ***Art Photorealism***