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Oil Painting for Sale

Oil painting is a painting technique that involves mixing finely ground color pigments with a binding oil, typically linseed oil, though poppy seed oil is also used. Before applying the paint, the surface must be coated with a primer to ensure proper adhesion. This step is essential for the durability and versatility of the medium, allowing artists to paint on various surfaces such as wood, canvas, or metal.

The origins of oil painting trace back to the Middle Ages, but it was the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck who is often credited with refining the technique. His experiments led to new levels of transparency and depth in artworks, influencing other Flemish painters who helped spread the method. Oil painting soon replaced tempera, which relied on egg yolk as a binder, and became the dominant medium in European art.

During the 15th century, wooden panels gave way to stretched linen canvases mounted on frames, enabling artists to work on larger, more flexible surfaces. This transition, however, came with challenges, as oil paint contained toxic components and required skilled preparation. Despite this, the Renaissance saw a surge in its popularity, with Venetian painters like Titian and Flemish masters such as Rubens embracing the medium. Dutch painters, led by Rembrandt, further advanced oil painting techniques, making it a defining feature of Baroque and later artistic movements.

The 19th and 20th centuries cemented oil painting as the preferred medium for modern artists. Industrialization revolutionized its use, with the invention of pre-packaged paint tubes in France in 1840. This innovation played a key role in the emergence of Impressionism, allowing painters to work outdoors, capturing light and movement in ways never before possible. A century later, acrylic paint began to challenge oil painting due to its quick drying time and ease of use.

A fundamental rule in oil painting is the fat-over-lean principle, ensuring durability by applying layers with higher oil content over those with lower oil content. This method prevents cracking and enhances the painting's longevity. While traditional oil painting techniques continue to thrive, contemporary artists often experiment with unconventional approaches. Some painters leave the canvas unprimed to highlight its raw texture, while abstract artists such as Jackson Pollock abandoned classical methods altogether, using dripping techniques to create spontaneous, dynamic compositions.

Oil painting remains a cornerstone of the art world, with countless artists still using this historic technique to produce remarkable works. On Artsper, discover contemporary oil paintings by renowned artists such as Arman, Salvador Dalí, and Robert Combas, showcasing the timeless beauty and versatility of this celebrated medium.

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Painting, Dawn of Dokdo, Ahn Sung Kyu

Dawn of Dokdo

Ahn Sung Kyu

Painting - 45.5 x 53 x 3 cm Painting - 17.9 x 20.9 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Drift, H.E. Kuckein

Drift

H.E. Kuckein

Painting - 91.4 x 91.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 36 x 36 x 2 inch

€4,756

Painting, Untitled, Hua Qing

Untitled

Hua Qing

Painting - 35 x 35 x 3 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,900

Painting, Windmaster, Alex Lavrov

Windmaster

Alex Lavrov

Painting - 71.1 x 50.8 x 1.9 cm Painting - 28 x 20 x 0.75 inch

€2,341

Painting, Dessin triste, Søcø

Dessin triste

Søcø

Painting - 169 x 140 x 1 cm Painting - 66.5 x 55.1 x 0.4 inch

€3,600

Painting, Non titrée, Pierre Igon

Non titrée

Pierre Igon

Painting - 54 x 65 cm Painting - 21.3 x 25.6 inch

€1,800

Painting, Sans Titre, Aurel Cojan

Sans Titre

Aurel Cojan

Painting - 50 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,800

Painting, The market, Asher Topel

The market

Asher Topel

Painting - 59.9 x 89.9 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

€1,463

Painting, Berkemeyer, Albert Kechyan

Berkemeyer

Albert Kechyan

Painting - 29 x 30 x 0.8 cm Painting - 11.4 x 11.8 x 0.3 inch

€1,632

Painting, Les grives, Paul Mathey

Les grives

Paul Mathey

Painting - 27 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting - 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,003

Painting, I Love New York, Ludo

I Love New York

Ludo

Painting - 50 x 50 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€2,000

Painting, Dark Hole, God Sylver

Dark Hole

God Sylver

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,400

Painting, Lecture, Michel Sementzeff

Lecture

Michel Sementzeff

Painting - 46 x 55 x 1 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,100

Painting, At Dusk, Nick Vivian

At Dusk

Nick Vivian

Painting - 80 x 80 x 5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 2 inch

€2,233

Painting, Amor indio, Maritza Bernal

Amor indio

Maritza Bernal

Painting - 101 x 76 x 2 cm Painting - 39.8 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

€2,000

Painting, Genèse, Emmanuelle Williot

Genèse

Emmanuelle Williot

Painting - 42 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,600

Painting, Motion 1.2, Eduard Churkin

Motion 1.2

Eduard Churkin

Painting - 90 x 139 x 4 cm Painting - 35.4 x 54.7 x 1.6 inch

€11,000

Painting, Régates, Victor Spahn

Régates

Victor Spahn

Painting - 89 x 116 x 3 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 x 1.2 inch

€5,000

Painting, Sensations, MIZ

Sensations

MIZ

Painting - 40 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

€2,000

Painting, Laura, Joanna Wojtowicz

Laura

Joanna Wojtowicz

Painting - 75 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,600

Painting, Space cake, Anna Pikos

Space cake

Anna Pikos

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€3,000

Painting, Cad'Déb', René Goxes

Cad'Déb'

René Goxes

Painting - 50 x 65 x 5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 2 inch

€2,100

Painting, Island Man, Qin Tan

Island Man

Qin Tan

Painting - 51 x 41 x 2.54 cm Painting - 20.1 x 16.1 x 1 inch

€4,116

Painting, Tchin, Isabelle Lebret

Tchin

Isabelle Lebret

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,200

Painting, The Cave, Müge Ceyhan

The Cave

Müge Ceyhan

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€3,000

Painting, Arlequin, Michel Gourlier

Arlequin

Michel Gourlier

Painting - 60 x 51 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 20.1 x 1.2 inch

€800

22/100

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Discover the selection of our experts

Painting, Discogolf, Ralph Resch

Discogolf

Ralph Resch

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

€1,050 €945

Painting, Orgasm, Dasha Pogodina

Orgasm

Dasha Pogodina

Painting - 90 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

€2,320

Painting, Régate, Pierrick Tual

Régate

Pierrick Tual

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€720

Painting, Etude 3, Alexander Shandor

Etude 3

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€732

Need help with Oil Painting for Sale ?
What is special about oil painting?

Oil painting allows for very efficient mixing of colors and tones. Due to its long drying time, it is possible to alter an oil painting days after the paint has been applied. Oil painting also allows for precision and a range of visual effects.

What's the difference between oil painting and acrylic?

Oil paint and acrylic paint are produced using different materials. While oil painting consists of pigments suspended in drying oils, acrylic paint is water-based. The main difference between the two is that acrylic paints can be thinned down with water, and dry faster than oil paints.

Is oil painting easier than watercolor?

It is easier to correct mistakes when working in oil paint as they are more opaque than watercolors and can be easily scraped off a surface.