Photorealism -- The Concept
Photorealism, also known as Hyperrealism, Sharp Focus, or New Realism, is a form of Modern Western Painting. It is a step closer to reality than the Realist painting style. It originated in 1970s and remains popular in the present Western Art scene as well. Louis K. Meisel first proposed the term 'Photorealism' in 1968. As the name suggests, the base for this type of work is a photographic image.
The Controversies
Public opinion on Photorealism has always been divided. Its nearness to reality has drawn a lot of criticism, on the ground that it lacks artistic imagination. It is argued that neither Photorealism is perfect enough to replace photography, nor is it artistic enough to be categorized as a painting in true sense. The argument in favor suggests that an artist's treatment of work distinguishes Photorealism from Photography. In addition, its model (photograph) is a steady reference for painting that is not subject to changes, and thereby, provides room for depth and focus, as against a flattened representation.
The Details
Photorealists are careful in choosing their subjects, such that they do not capture the mundane and commonplace scenes. Sometimes, the choice is the ugly and unsavory reality, while at the other times the focus is on uncommon beauty. Mood of the scene plays a significant role in adding 'body' to the work. The technique used for Photorealist paintings involves transferring a photographic image on the canvas by the traditional grid/mosaic method or by employing a projector. This produces a magnified version of the original photographic slide to be used as the base for a Photorealist Painting. The final touches are given through bristle brush or an airbrush and little paint. The choice of tools depends upon the effect desired. Some painters avoid prominent brushwork and prefer the smooth airbrush finish, whereas others prefer to highlight visible brushstrokes to add 'artistic' grade to the painting. Nevertheless, the attempt in both the case is to closely follow the contours and to produce a photographic perfection.
Technically, the Photorealist's impression of the original is a highly complex and cumbersome job. The artist has to take into account, the minutest of the details of the original shot. Many artists prefer to add some more details or features of their choice, to enhance the artistic appeal of their piece. However, the scope of leaving out certain elements is limited, as the painting is created on the base of a 'true' capture.
Photorealist Examples
Among the lead artists of Photorealism were Audrey Flack, Richard Estes, Charles Bell, Ralph Goings, Robert Bechtle, Howard Kanovitz, Richard McLean, Chuck Close, Tom Blackwell, and Don Eddy.
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