Contemporary Realism

Jolien Klitsie, Content & Marketing Gallerease
Jolien Klitsie
Content & Marketing
55 Articles

What you see is what you get…right? Contemporary art is often associated with abstraction or experimentation. But there are still plenty of artists that prefer to portray elements of daily life and our natural surroundings. However, don't be fooled, just because you recognize what you see in an instant, there are always multiple layers to be discovered!


Noodles (2017)
Simon Pasini (1976) is developing into a contemporary realist pur sang. Aside from his realistic painterly style, his subject matter is always related to daily life.

Simon Pasini Contempory realism painting titled Noodles
Simon Pasini, Noodles, 2017, oil on canvas, 100 x 120 cm,  Galerie Terbeek

Whereas his earlier works are slightly more romantic, and could be associated with a broader time span, this recent painting depicts the epitome of contemporary culture: a person eating fast food whilst playing on their mobile phone. Note how the artist has also skillfully taken into account the reflections on the glass window.


White Nandu Egg (2000)
A contemporary still life obviously also belongs in this selection. Olav Cleofas van Overbeek’s (1946) paintings are so realistic that they deceive your eyes into thinking that you are looking at a photograph. To attain such a highly-refined level of realism, Van Overbeek pays careful attention to form, composition, light and colour, whilst using traditional materials.

Painting White nandu egg
Olav Cleofas van Overbeek, White Nandu Egg, 2000, oil on canvas, 50 x 40 cm, available through Galerie Lieve Hemel.

In this particular painting, it is the concept of reflection that brings forth a “trompe-l'oeil”, further amplified by a sharply depicted source of light. It’s not until you take a closer look that you recognize a difference in the surface’s texture, revealing the fact that this is a painting, just don’t become tempted to touch!


Big Cloud (2016)
Jan-Hendrik Dolsma (1950) discovered the landscape-genre at the art Academy Minerva. This fascination first evolved out of studying 17th century Dutch landscapes, later it was the Hague School that motivated Dolsma, as well as the romantic landscape painters. Following a short career as an art teacher, Dolsma may now call himself a professional land- and seascape painter.

Big Cloud painting by Jan-Hendrik Dolsma
Jan-Hendrik Dolsma, Big Cloud, 2016, oil on canvas, 70 x 120 cm, available through Gallery de Twee Pauwen

In this seascape, he captures the beauty and the mystery of our typically Dutch skies, something seemingly timeless. Yet the atmosphere that this painting conveys makes us feel as if we are standing right there, with the cold sea breeze blowing past our faces.

For more contemporary art, plaese have a look here!


ArtStories is a weekly column that features three unique objects from the Gallerease collection. Every piece comes with its own story that deserves to be told.


Written by Jolien Klitsie on 17 Jan 2018, 10:00 Catégorie Highlights from the CollectionTagged Art contemporain, Réalisme contemporain, Collectionner de l'art
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