By Jacqui Wunderlich, Alexis Shaft & John Fortenberry

PHOTOREALISM

• Paintings & sculptures where photographs are used to gather information and then replicated in exact detail so that they are indistinguishable from the original subject.

• Reactionary movement against Abstract Expressionism art movement, similar to Pop Art & Minimalism.

• Took place during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

• Other names for Photorealism are: Hyperrealism, Superrealism, Sharp Focus & New Realism.

WHAT IS PHOTOREALISM?

Critic Howard Smith asked me, “What are you going to call this group?” I said, “I don’t know, what am I going to call them?

They’re using the photograph, they’re being

very open about it. It’s photographic realism. I

don’t know, photorealism. Does that sound good to

you?”-Louis K. Meisel

The term ‘photorealism’ was coined by Louis K. Meisel in 1969.

"Six Views of Edo: Shinjuko III” by Richard Estes

• Abstract Expressionism was the favored American art style

during the post-WWII era.• Abstract Expressionism used

little to no pre-planning, a lot of spontaneity and was very

conceptual.• Photorealism went back to the

roots of heavy planning and realistic depictions of objects.

Unlike Abstract Expressionism, photorealism favored random objects and

“everydayness”.

REACTION AGAINST ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM

“Tourists” sculpture by Duane Hanson

• Everyday objects and everyday scenery, use of

found objects• Detached and impersonal• Geometric and colorful• Lets art speak for itself • Rejection of elitism

• More cluttered than minimalism, no “less is

more”• Points out commercialism

of America, very satirical look

• Relies very heavily on good technique and skill• Mistaken for real

photographs

Similarities to Pop art & Minimalism

Diff erences from Pop art & Minimalism

PHOTOREALISM VS. POP ART &

MINIMALISM

Estes was born in 1932 in Illinois. He attended

college at The Art Institute in Chicago,

Illinois. Estes is regarded as one of the

key founders of the photorealism

movement. Most of his paintings are of

reflective city life, mostly in New York

City.

RICHARD ESTESb. 1932 - present

TELEPHONE BOOTHS

• 1968

• Contained abstraction

• Reflectivity

• Hyperreal from afar, abstract brush strokes from up close

“The L Train” 2009 is a great example of Richard’s constant use of reflection used to confuse the mind.He liked to do this with his paintings so you would question what you are actually seeing.

Reflections Nasdaq Window (2010)

MICHIGAN AVENUE (1984)

As Estes work progresses throughout time, what is seen in his pictures changes. He carefully selects what goes into his pictures. From them you can see a snapshot of time—what the cars looked like, what was in shop windows, and even what people dressed like.

SPIRIT (1995-1996)

TIMES SQUARE (2004)

• Born July 14, 1940• Used Grid Technique

• His works are generally larger than life and highly

focused• Suffers from

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness

• "The Event”

b. 1940 - present

CHUCK CLOSE

• Born in Alexandria, Minnesota in 1925.

• It took him until he was 40 to realize he didn’t

enjoy abstract art and to fall in love with photorealism

• Early works centered around violent, graphic

situations• Later works focused on

ordinary life, people who get ignored

• Used his art to make a statement

DUANE HANSONb. 1925 – d. 1996

Abortion (1967)

Race Riot (1969-1971)

Seated Artist(1971)

Children Playing Game (1979)

Queenie II (1988)

Tourists II (1988)

• Duane Hanson used sculpture by casting parts of his models’ bodies and then using a mixture of fiberglass resin and polyester to create the forms.

• He then painted them to have flesh-colored skin and any extra details like veins, muscles, freckles, etc. He used real human hair to create wigs for the sculptures’ heads and bought clothing to fit them properly.

SCULPTURE TECHNIQUE

• Attended college in Honolulu, Hawaii and Santa

Barbara.• Originally was a surfboard

painter, and did not want to be an artist.

• Known for extreme precision and adding

texture to his oil paintings• Went from object oriented

works to images he juxtaposed in relation to

another

DON EDDYb. 1944 - present

EVOLUTION OF DON EDDY’S WORK

1960’s-present

Angels of Destruction (1967)

One of his more well known pieces of art, it was a reaction to Vietnam, including elements of G.I. Joe and Hell’s Angels (famous biker gang). This referenced soldiers seriousness, set against an American flag.

Prodigal Son Cycle: My Father Tempts Me, 1968

In this picture, he liked to cut in another image in place of something else that should’ve been there. E.g. the apple and the man’s face.

Two Volkswagens (1971)

In this one, you can see his progression into the photorealist movement, using hyperrealist techniques.

Volkswagen and OK used Cars, 1971

New Shoes (1973)

From 1973-1990, his paintings concentrate on objects, transitioning from cars and other early works.

Silverware I (1976)

This shows his attention to detail, and the light shining off the gleaming dishes.

Dreamreader in Bellagio (1985)

Evacutaion of the Common Error (1997-1998)

HOW TO MAKE PHOTOREALISM

Grid Method

• Take a Picture• Make a Grid• Focus on detail• Focus on lighting

• Paintings & sculptures where photographs are used to gather information and then replicated in exact detail so that they are indistinguishable from the original subject.

• Reactionary movement against Abstract Expressionism art movement, similar to Pop Art & Minimalism.

• Richard Estes (Painting)• Chuck Close (Grid Method)• Duane Hanson (Sculpture)• Don Eddy (Painting)

RECAP