superrealism
Beyond photographic accuracy
Superrealism is an art movement, particularly in painting and sculpture, that depicts subjects with such extreme photographic precision that works appear more detailed than photographs themselves.
Artists working in this style meticulously reproduce every surface texture, reflection, and shadow, often focusing on mundane subjects like storefronts, cars, or human figures.
The term is largely interchangeable with hyperrealism and photorealism, though superrealism sometimes emphasizes an uncanny quality that makes ordinary scenes feel heightened or surreal.
Art imitating camera accuracy
- detailSingle small element
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
- brushworkPainter's stroke method
airbrush · gridding · projection · layering · glazing · rendering · sharpness · exactitude
Art mimicking three dimensions
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- simulationImitation of real processes
lifelikeness · uncanny valley · artifice · mimesis · facsimile · replica · hologram · virtuality
Art imitating camera accuracy
- trompe-l'oeilArt mimicking three dimensions
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
Artistic depiction of someone
- still-lifeArt depicting inanimate objects
- landscapeVisible features of terrain
- urbanPertaining to cities
- automobileSelf-propelled passenger conveyance
diner · storefront · reflection · glass · chrome · water droplets · skin · fabric
Flexible synthetic polymer
- fiberglassReinforced woven strand composite
- castingShaping through liquid form
- lifelikeResembling the real thing
- figurativeRepresenting through imagery
installation · bust · life-size · uncanny · anatomical
photorealism
Art imitating camera accuracy
- detailSingle small element
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
brushwork · airbrush · gridding · projection · layering · glazing · rendering · sharpness · exactitude · meticulousness
trompe-l'oeil
Art mimicking three dimensions
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
simulation · lifelikeness · uncanny valley · artifice · mimesis · facsimile · replica · hologram · virtuality · simulacrum
photorealism
Art imitating camera accuracy
- trompe-l'oeilArt mimicking three dimensions
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
portrait
Artistic depiction of someone
- still-lifeArt depicting inanimate objects
- landscapeVisible features of terrain
- urbanPertaining to cities
automobile · diner · storefront · reflection · glass · chrome · water droplets · skin · fabric · everyday objects
silicone
Flexible synthetic polymer
- fiberglassReinforced woven strand composite
- castingShaping through liquid form
- lifelikeResembling the real thing
figurative · installation · bust · life-size · uncanny · anatomical
superrealismabstract art
Visual work avoiding depiction
abstraction · abstract expressionism · impressionism · expressionism · cubism
superrealismaction painting
Spontaneous, physical mark-making
expressionism · automatism · primitive art · naive art · folk art
realistic, realism, unrealistic, realist, unreality, surrealism, surrealist, surrealists, hyperrealism