Fantastical painting for Sale
Fantasy painting is a style of art which explores the supernatural, depicting fantastical elements such as legends, ancient myths and divine figures. Mythical creatures are also prevalent in this genre where elves, fairies, dragons and wizards are often depicted alongside deities, angels and demons.
Fantasy painting grew in popularity after the invention of photography replaced the demand for Realism in the 19th century. The 20th century saw the introduction of new idealistic movements such as Expressionism, Cubism, Abstraction and Surrealism, where artists abandoned portraying subjects truthfully and embraced the implausible and supernatural. Although Fantasy Painting can technically be traced back to antiquity, it wasn't until the 20th century that it became an accepted art form. Artists of the Italian Renaissance were equally inspired by mythological characters in Greek and Roman culture. However, religious mythology was a highly sophisticated and incredibly important topic during the Renaissance, and is therefore not an example of fantasy painting.
Contemporary fantasy art has certainly been influenced by a surge in demand for science fiction and whimsical literary plots. This pushed artists to explore the darker corners of fantasy art, employing vampires and werewolves into their artwork. In 1923 the first all-fantasy fiction magazine was created called “Weird Tales", which helped bring fantasy painting onto a contemporary platform. As a result, fantasy painting became a powerful tool in the marketing of fantasy literature and film. Robert E. Howard's comic book hero “Conan the Barbarian" was a prominent feature in Weird Tales magazine. However, when the stories were re-released in 1960 with cover art by notable fantasy painter, Frank Frazetta, over 10 million copies were sold. This success lead to the creation of other fantasy art magazines. French magazine, “Métal Hurlant" (howling metal) was created in 1974. Due to its huge readership and demand, it was translated and republished in the United States as “Heavy Metal" in 1977. The late 70s also saw a boom in computer games and blockbuster films, which only furthered the popularity of fantasy painting. Hugely successful films like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Hobbit and Twilight were paramount in fantasy painting's not only rise to prominence, but also increasing acceptance as an art form.
Despite the skill of artists that produce fantasy paintings, it is still not considered canonical. Since it is not an example of “high art", the genre is generally not exhibited in galleries or taught in art schools, which many claim is due to the popularity of fantasy literature and film. However, as fantasy painting's reputation grows, so does the acceptance for a wider variety of art forms. Therefore, we can't eliminate the possibility that this massively prominent genre won't be considered highbrow one day.
Discover our selection of original paintings by contemporary artists and painters who have been inspired by all things supernatural, mythical and divine.
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Promenons nous dans les bois
Céline Achour
Painting - 140 x 45 x 4 cm Painting - 55.1 x 17.7 x 1.6 inch
€1,685
Le conte du Papillon (Memento mori 3)
Céline Achour
Painting - 100 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch
€2,450
Le conte du Papillon (Memento mori 2)
Céline Achour
Painting - 100 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch
€2,450
Naturaleza muerta suspendida
Pere Bennàssar Obrador
Painting - 90 x 135 x 3 cm Painting - 35.4 x 53.1 x 1.2 inch
€6,000
True stories of the Middle East
Mohammad Ariyaei
Painting - 168 x 192 x 5 cm Painting - 66.1 x 75.6 x 2 inch
€9,500
Gea - la tierra
Pere Bennàssar Obrador
Painting - 19 x 29 x 1.5 cm Painting - 7.5 x 11.4 x 0.6 inch
€665
La Cité des Rêves 6
Michel Saint-Luc
Painting - 25 x 25 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
€250
In Nature Mountain
Peter Opheim
Painting - 152 x 152 x 2 cm Painting - 59.8 x 59.8 x 0.8 inch
€12,925
About Creation We Are Energy Sublime Greyscape Divine Silence Composition
Ovidiu Kloska
Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
€1,800
12 series Alice's encounters
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 45 x 45 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch
€1,750
Promenons-nous dans les bois
Céline Achour
Painting - 140 x 45 x 4 cm Painting - 55.1 x 17.7 x 1.6 inch
€2,075
Le matin des énergies
Yvan Philmer
Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
€1,900
Fantastic secret garden
Ovidiu Kloska
Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
€1,200
Lost in time
Mikhail Baranovskiy
Painting - 100 x 70 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 1 inch
€2,000
Afternoon of a Sphinx
Ciprian Mihailescu
Painting - 70 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
€5,170
Empreinte 10 concrétion
Alexandre Monteiro (Hopare)
Painting - 120 x 120 x 1 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch
€30,000
Keys (Notre Dame)
Zbigniew Wozniak
Painting - 39 x 39 x 0.5 cm Painting - 15.4 x 15.4 x 0.2 inch
€900
Large Discs and Sticks
Judith Berry
Painting - 152 x 224 x 3 cm Painting - 59.8 x 88.2 x 1.2 inch
€10,467
Perennial Pot with Autumn Flowers and a Lemon
Ovidiu Kloska
Painting - 60 x 60 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 inch
€700 €560
Strange Vase with Yellow Light Flowers
Ovidiu Kloska
Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
€700 €560
La vanité de l'existence
Céline Achour
Painting - 24 x 19 x 2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 7.5 x 0.8 inch
€220
Homme linge 10 Petit prince
Sounya Whang
Painting - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
€420
Portrait Femme à sac à main
Sounya Whang
Painting - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch
€135
The making of the mountains
Judith Berry
Painting - 20.3 x 61 x 5.1 cm Painting - 8 x 24 x 2 inch
€1,300
Black and white discs on green
Judith Berry
Painting - 30.5 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Painting - 12 x 12 x 2 inch
€1,500
Ropes, fire and trees
Judith Berry
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,400
Talking to ourselves
Judith Berry
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,400
It’s really very easy
Judith Berry
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,400
Double Portrait with Sticks
Judith Berry
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,400
Nostalgic Geology II
Ciprian Mihailescu
Painting - 70 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
€3,000
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
Le Chef-d'Oeuvre ou les Mystères de l'Horizon
René Magritte
Print - 45 x 60 x 0.1 cm Print - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
€780
La forêt intérieure
Clémence Dupuch
Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
€1,600
Femme au bord de l'eau, 1910 | Woman at the Shoreline, 1910
Léon Spilliaert
Print - 59 x 72 cm Print - 23.2 x 28.3 inch
€750
Need help with Fantastical painting ?
What is a fantasy painting?
A fantasy painting depicts imaginary, supernatural, or unreal scenes, often inspired by myths, dreams, or fantasy. It invites the viewer to explore worlds where imagination takes precedence over reality.
What is dreamlike and fantastic painting?
Dreamlike and fantastical painting explores imaginary worlds, blending dreams with the unreal. It is characterized by surreal scenes, invented creatures, and mysterious landscapes, inviting escape and personal interpretation.
What characterizes the fantasy genre?
The fantasy genre is distinguished by the eruption of supernatural or inexplicable elements into a realistic universe, arousing doubt and confusion in both the characters and the viewer. It invites us to question the boundary between reality and imagination, a theme often explored in contemporary art.
What is the prettiest painting in the world?
The notion of "the most beautiful painting in the world" is subjective and varies according to taste. Among the most admired works, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa fascinates with its mystery, but every contemporary art lover will find their own favorite on Artsper.