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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, Untitled, Evgeni Batoev

Untitled

Evgeni Batoev

Painting - 86 x 112 x 3 cm Painting - 33.9 x 44.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, My Stomach, Keziat

My Stomach

Keziat

Painting - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Sans titre I, Yu Fu

Sans titre I

Yu Fu

Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Naples, Alexandre Garbell

Naples

Alexandre Garbell

Painting - 42 x 22 x 0.5 cm Painting - 16.5 x 8.7 x 0.2 inch

€1,900

Painting, Feeling, Doncho Zahariev

Feeling

Doncho Zahariev

Painting - 55 x 45 x 0.5 cm Painting - 21.7 x 17.7 x 0.2 inch

€550

Painting, Clarity, Valeria Ocean

Clarity

Valeria Ocean

Painting - 90 x 70 x 3 cm Painting - 35.4 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,098

Painting, The city, Clara Duch

The city

Clara Duch

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

€2,500

Painting, Mountains, Denis Zabelin

Mountains

Denis Zabelin

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€1,280

Painting, Magnolias, Agnija Germane

Magnolias

Agnija Germane

Painting - 73 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 28.7 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€1,300

Painting, Travelers, Giorgi Melikidze

Travelers

Giorgi Melikidze

Painting - 40.1 x 40.3 x 2 cm Painting - 15.8 x 15.9 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Sneaky Masks, Emil Aziz

Sneaky Masks

Emil Aziz

Painting - 90 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€5,000 €3,750

Painting, 5 pm, Richard Szkutnik

5 pm

Richard Szkutnik

Painting - 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11 x 14 x 0.2 inch

€631

Painting, Trio, Henadzi Havartsou

Trio

Henadzi Havartsou

Painting - 70.1 x 100.1 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 39.4 x 1 inch

€613

Painting, Le Louvre, Pierre Allard

Le Louvre

Pierre Allard

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

€800

Painting, Still Life, Santo Miano

Still Life

Santo Miano

Painting - 30 x 60 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

€800

Painting, Paisatge, Manuel Mayoral

Paisatge

Manuel Mayoral

Painting - 22 x 27 x 3 cm Painting - 8.7 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

€550

Painting, Ballet class, Penyo Ivanov

Ballet class

Penyo Ivanov

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,450

Painting, My your ocean, Kim Hye Ji

My your ocean

Kim Hye Ji

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.7 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.3 inch

€5,702

Painting, Victory, Agboola Oladapo

Victory

Agboola Oladapo

Painting - 182.9 x 146.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 72 x 57.6 x 1 inch

€6,402

Painting, L'ouverture, FAG

L'ouverture

FAG

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,600

Painting, Untitled, Albert Debois

Untitled

Albert Debois

Painting - 74 x 54 x 0.1 cm Painting - 29.1 x 21.3 x 0 inch

€750

Painting, Umano, Ljuba Ananina

Umano

Ljuba Ananina

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

€750

Painting, Tailwind, Angel Gerdjikov

Tailwind

Angel Gerdjikov

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,250

Painting, Sans titre, Pierre Saunier

Sans titre

Pierre Saunier

Painting - 131 x 101 x 3 cm Painting - 51.6 x 39.8 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, Pink Horse, Su Bin Lim

Pink Horse

Su Bin Lim

Painting - 40.9 x 27.3 x 3 cm Painting - 16.1 x 10.7 x 1.2 inch

€740

Painting, Let's dance, Hanne Kjaer

Let's dance

Hanne Kjaer

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

€1,100

Painting, Klezmerim, Michael Kachan

Klezmerim

Michael Kachan

Painting - 48 x 120 x 1 cm Painting - 18.9 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch

€2,460

Painting, Sans titre, Irina Dopont

Sans titre

Irina Dopont

Painting - 119 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 46.9 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, NG Abs, Neta Gidalia

NG Abs

Neta Gidalia

Painting - 100 x 140 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

10/100

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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

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.