Fotorealismen

Fotorealismen is an art movement that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Artists associated with this movement aimed to reproduce photographs as accurately as possible in their paintings and drawings. The goal was not simply to copy a photograph, but to use it as a source material to create a work of art that was, in its own right, a highly detailed and objective representation of reality.

Key characteristics of fotorealismen include the meticulous rendering of detail, the absence of visible brushstrokes, and a focus on everyday subjects such as urban landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. Artists often worked from a single photograph, projecting it onto their canvas and meticulously filling in the details. The process was often time-consuming and required immense technical skill.

Fotorealismen can be seen as a reaction against the more abstract and conceptual art movements of the time. It emphasized technical virtuosity and the direct observation of the visual world. While the initial reception was mixed, with some critics viewing it as mere imitation, others recognized the conceptual depth and the artists' ability to transform photographic imagery into compelling painted realities. The movement has had a lasting influence on subsequent generations of artists.