Photorealism began in the late 1960s as a reaction to abstract art movements. It aimed to reclaim the value of imagery in art by using photographs and mechanical means to precisely replicate scenes and objects in paintings. Key photorealists discussed include Richard Estes, Chuck Close, Ralph Goings, and Duane Hanson. Their works captured frozen moments in time through highly detailed renditions of cityscapes, portraits, and everyday objects. While influenced by pop art, photorealism sought to elevate photographic images through technical mastery rather than critique popular culture.

1. INTRODUCING: PHOTOREALISM
BY: LESLIE AND FANG

2. History:
• Began in the late 1960s
• Term coined by Louis K. Meisel in 1969
• It is also sometimes labeled as Super-Realism, New
Realism, Sharp Focus Realism, or Hyper-Realism.

3. • Evolved from Pop Art and was a counter to
Abstract Expressionism and Minimalisism

4. • “Photorealism “came out of Pop yet had the
affectlessness of Minimalism and, at the same
time, capitalized on the public's fondness for exact
replication.”
• Reaction to the ever increasing photographic
media, which was threatening to lessen the value
of imagery in art.
• Tried to reclaim the value of an image.
• Photorealism was international, but mainly
practiced in the U.S.

5. • The use of a camera and photographs is an acceptance of
Modernism
• Invention of camera:
1. Caused scenic and portrait artists to quit and move to
photography because their work was claimed to be inadequate to the
real thing.
2. In the 19th and 20th century, artist used photographs as
an aid in their painting but would deny it in fear that their work to be
called imitations.
3. Offered up a lot of experimentation.
• Photography was a break in history and allowed artist to replicate
something that they witnessed. (Cave Man Drawings)

6. MEISEL’S 5 POINT DEFINITION FOR
ORIGINATORS
• Use of camera and photograph to gather “info”
• Use of mechanical or semi-mechanical means to transfer
“info”
• Artist must have technical ability to make the piece seem
photo realistic
• Work must be exhibited by 1972 to be considered a
Central Photo Realist
• Artist must have devoted at least 5 years towards
photorealistic work

7. The difference between Photorealism and Pop Art:
Photorealism
• Tries to reclaim and exalt the value of an image.
• sustains the fact that reproducing paintings from photograph is not
mere imitation.
Pop Art:
• usually for commercial usage
• mainly pointing out the absurdity of much of the imagery.
• Focusing on humor or leisure purposes.

8. STYLES AND IDEAS
• All styles revolve around the photograph
• Artists try to represent a frozen moment in time
• The photographs slide must be transferred to the
canvas, 2 primary methods to do so
Technical method
• The use of machines or projectors to slide the
image onto the canvas

9. METHODS-GRID

10. Richard Estes (1932-1990)
• Used color photographs
• The paintings generally consist of
reflective, clean, and inanimate city and
geometric landscapes.
• Didn't included litter or snow around the
buildings, because he thought they
would draw attention away from the
buildings.
• Settings were always in the daytime,
never the nighttime

11. • Avoided using famous cityscapes
• strive to create a three-dimensional feel
• early 1960s are of city dwellers engaged in everyday activities
• Beginning around 1967, he began to paint storefronts and
buildings with glass windows and their reflections.

12. Ansonia, 1977.

13. Oenophilia, 1983

14. tkts Line, 2005

15. Charles Bell (1935 – 1995)
• Subject matter was mainly of
vintage toys, gumball
machines, and dolls and
action figures.
• He created work in a scale as
much as ten times life size,
with clear and vibrant colors.
• Brings out majesty and
wonder to the mundane.

16. Sugar Daddy, 1975

17. One to Four can Play, 1995

18. Marbles VIII, 1982

19. CHUCK CLOSE
• Born in Monro, Washington 1940
• Bachelor’s in art from University of Washington
• Major in art from Yale
• Focuses on portraits of friends and family
• Master of the Grid method
• 1988 spinal infection left him quadriplegic
• Had to relearn how to use his hands to continue his work
• Work featured at multiple museums including National
Gallery of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Tate gallery and
more.
• Paints faces because “He has a difficulty recognizing
faces”
• Later works features a concept of pointillism mixed in
• Later work branched into non-rectangular grids and
topographic styles of regions with similar color

20. The Big Self Portrait
1969 acrylic on canvas
"The thing I like about a photograph is that it
represents a frozen, poem like moment in
time."--Chuck Close

21. Emma 2002 (Chuck’s niece)
Frank 1969

22. Lucas 2, 1987
Lucas, 1986

23. Ralph Goings 1928
• best known for his paintings of
hamburger stands, pick-up trucks,
and California banks
• visually engaging because of
the variety of texture, light play
and reflections
• reveal the visual beauty and
fascination of the pictorial subject
• It's a democratic triumph: all
things become equal in both
their power and vacuity.

24. Dick’s Union General, 1971

25. Miss Albany Diner, 1993

26. Double Ketchup, 2006

27. Donut, 2006

28. DUANE HANSON
• Born January 17th, 1925 in Alexandria Minnesota
• Master of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of
Art after a period of teaching high school art
• 1987 honored with Duane Hanson Day, a proclamation
in Broward County.
• Introduced into Florida Artists Hall of fame in 1992
• Social Observer

29. STYLE-HANSON
• Heavily influenced by the Pop Art sculptor George Segal
• Known for life-like sculptures made from variable
materials such as polyester resin, fiberglass, bondo, and
bronze
• Original pieces depicted brutally violent subjects
• First pieces cast in fiberglass and vinyl
• Clothed sculptors appropriately and posed them for
action shots
• Used real life models and adjusted as needed
• Predominately middle or lower class, blue collar

30. Race Riot
http://www.wineandbowties.com/art/sc
ulptures-by-duane-hanson/
Motorcycle accident 1967

31. Traveller 1988
Tourists 1988 (fiberglass)

32. MODERN PHOTOREALISM
• Movement continues and includes some of the
originators
• New photo realists build upon the foundations of the
originators
• Many newer artists have strayed from original strict
definition
• New tech allows artists to be able to be far more
precision oriented

33. OVERVIEW
• Movement began in late 1960s early 1970s
• Not possible without the invention of the photograph
• Photorealism is about catching a frozen moment in time
• Photorealism is not about the photo, but rather the skill
behind duplicating the image or how they adjust the
image.