Photorealism

Photorealism is an art style that aims to replicate the appearance of high-resolution photography with extreme precision and detail. Emerging in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Photorealism focuses on technical mastery, sharp focus, and visual accuracy, often using photographs as references to create paintings or drawings that are nearly indistinguishable from real life.

Common subjects include urban scenes, portraits, vehicles, glass, metal, and reflective surfaces, rendered with meticulous care to light, texture, and perspective. Unlike traditional realism, Photorealism embraces the visual language of the camera—depth of field, lens distortion, and photographic framing.

In AI-generated and digital contexts, Photorealism is used to produce lifelike imagery that blurs the line between simulation and reality—ideal for virtual environments, concept art, architectural visualization, and any project that demands hyperreal fidelity.