Fotorealismi

Fotorealismi, known in English as photorealism, is an art movement that emerged in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Artists sought to translate photographs into paintings or sculptures with a level of realism that closely resembles the original image. The movement arose in dialogue with contemporary art trends, including Pop Art and concept-driven practices, and emphasized precise depiction of everyday scenes and surfaces.

Techniques and characteristics are centered on the use of photographs as primary references. Photorealists often enlarge or project images onto the painting support, employ grid systems or tracing, and apply paint with meticulous brushwork or airbrush to capture sharp edges, subtle tonal shifts, and complex reflections. Subjects frequently include storefronts, diners, cars, urban streets, and other ordinary moments, with careful attention given to textures such as chrome, glass, water, and skin.

Prominent figures associated with photorealism include painters such as Richard Estes, Chuck Close, Ralph Goings, Audrey Flack, Don Eddy, and John Baeder, as well as sculptors like Duane Hanson. The term and concept were popularized by critic and dealer Louis K. Meisel, who organized influential exhibitions and publications that helped define the movement and its market presence.

Reception of photorealism has been mixed. Critics have praised technical mastery and questions of perception while at times challenging the perceived lack of conceptual content. Since its emergence, the movement has influenced subsequent trends in hyperrealism and contemporary realism, and it continues to be revisited in exhibitions and scholarly analyses as a distinct approach to representational art.