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What is photorealism?

The Definition of Photorealism What is photorealism? Photorealism is the reproduction of a photograph including the lens aberration(s) and distortion(s). Photorealism and Hyperrealism were founded in the 1970s, as ideological postmodern reactions to the Abstract Expressionist movement. The Abstract expressionist found 'transcendence' in swatches of color, the Photo-realist reacted to the Abstract Expressionist movement by painting […]
Original oil Painting Contemporary Art Origami
Original oil Painting Contemporary Art Origami

The Definition of Photorealism

What is photorealism? Photorealism is the reproduction of a photograph including the lens aberration(s) and distortion(s). Photorealism and Hyperrealism were founded in the 1970s, as ideological postmodern reactions to the Abstract Expressionist movement. The Abstract expressionist found 'transcendence' in swatches of color, the Photo-realist reacted to the Abstract Expressionist movement by painting the 'mundane'. The purpose of photorealist art is not to replicate a photograph, but much like Abstract expressionism, both demonstrate the limits of the canvas. The viewer is aware that the photorealist painting is not a photograph.

Photo-realism often relies on photography and a projector, which is why it could not have existed before photography, and printing were widely available. Hyper-realism takes photorealism a step further by acknowledging the difference between what a photograph can capture and what a human eye can capture(the human eye is fundamentally an impressive camera), thus the hyperrealist often works from photographs and from life.

The Photo-realist aims to undo what was done by the Abstract Expressionist, they do the opposite of splurging on a canvas. Photo-realism is Contemporary Art, it even shaped the art education system to include projectors; an innovation in art. Jackson Pollock is dead and Chuck Close is alive and well. There are even new movements in art, like anti-institutional street art and Digital art.

What is the difference between Renaissance art and photorealism?

What defines renaissance art is the subject matter, and the use of the Atelier Method, in which an artist works from life. In the renaissance era 'life' was a loose term, more often than not the renaissance artist was forced to work from sculptures and other artists' paintings.

Ideologically speaking, renaissance art does not represent what was actually going on in the world, there are few things that are actually 'real' within renaissance art. The scenes in renaissance art are often biblical, the portraits are often embellished, and the technical know-how is often subpar compared to that of contemporary photo-realists. This is due to the advancements made within painting due to the industrialization of art.

Unfortunately, art history textbooks tend to end at the Abstract Expressionist movement, proclaiming that it was the 'end' of painting. It’s almost as if the art historians are attempting to forget the last 50 years of Contemporary Art. Maybe they’re embarrassed. It’s like they’re all stuck. The educated and uneducated alike; literally do not know the difference between renaissance art and photo-realism. Photo-realism occurred as a reaction to abstract expressionism. There is no comparison to a painting by Daniel Sprick to any painting by Michel Angelo because Daniel Sprick is on an entirely different skill level.

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