photorealists

Photorealists are painters associated with a movement that began in the United States in the late 1960s. They aimed to render images with the precision of a photograph, often from a photographic source. The term photorealism was popularized by Louis K. Meisel, who organized landmark exhibitions and catalogues. Works typically imitate high-resolution imagery through careful observation, measurement, and technique.

Painters use photographs as references, sometimes projecting or gridding the image onto canvas. They work with oils or acrylics and often employ airbrush or glazing to achieve sharp detail and subtle tonal transitions. The intent is to replicate optical realism, including reflections, texture, and depth, producing paintings that resemble photographs at a glance.

Subjects include urban and suburban scenes, diners, storefronts, cars, and still lifes. Portraits by Chuck Close and cityscapes by Richard Estes are among the best known. Some artists, such as Audrey Flack and John Baeder, emphasize color and composition within the realism. The movement is linked to hyperrealism, though some critics maintain distinctions based on process and emphasis.

Notable artists also include Robert Bechtle and Don Eddy. Since the 1970s, photorealism has influenced later realism and contemporary painting, intersecting with digital imaging and photo-editing. Critics have debated its originality, the role of photography, and its relation to consumer culture. Today, photorealists continue to produce highly detailed works that foreground material surfaces and the mechanism of seeing.