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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, Pearl Grove, Vahe Yeremyan

Pearl Grove

Vahe Yeremyan

Painting - 114 x 75 x 3 cm Painting - 44.9 x 29.5 x 1.2 inch

€3,500

Painting, Norbeck, Isadore Lévy

Norbeck

Isadore Lévy

Painting - 80 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Brewster, Isadore Lévy

Brewster

Isadore Lévy

Painting - 100 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,600

Painting, Branford, Isadore Lévy

Branford

Isadore Lévy

Painting - 70 x 35 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,100

Painting, Thoughtful, Iwan Kulik

Thoughtful

Iwan Kulik

Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€2,900

Painting, Printemps, Anton

Printemps

Anton

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

€700

Painting, Spring 11, Mainman

Spring 11

Mainman

Painting - 130 x 97 x 1.8 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.7 inch

€3,350

Painting, Calvary, Yevgeniya Kramska

Calvary

Yevgeniya Kramska

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€637

Painting, Apurant, Joan Descarga

Apurant

Joan Descarga

Painting - 28 x 19 cm Painting - 11 x 7.5 inch

€777

Painting, Attelage de rêve, Marabout

Attelage de rêve

Marabout

Painting - 114 x 146 x 2 cm Painting - 44.9 x 57.5 x 0.8 inch

€10,500 €8,925

Painting, Ledenon, Raymond Berthelot

Ledenon

Raymond Berthelot

Painting - 64 x 91 x 4 cm Painting - 25.2 x 35.8 x 1.6 inch

€600

Painting, Composition, Pierre Mantra

Composition

Pierre Mantra

Painting - 100 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,500

Painting, Loyality, Giorgi Giorgadze

Loyality

Giorgi Giorgadze

Painting - 90 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 35.4 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€970

Painting, Umano, Ljbobv

Umano

Ljbobv

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

€750

Painting, S’allécher, Marie Rauzy

S’allécher

Marie Rauzy

Painting - 55 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, Asters, Christophe Thiry

Asters

Christophe Thiry

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Brush, Juris Dimiters

Brush

Juris Dimiters

Painting - 52 x 32 x 3 cm Painting - 20.5 x 12.6 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, River rise, Dan Louth

River rise

Dan Louth

Painting - 101.6 x 76.2 x 3.8 cm Painting - 40 x 30 x 1.5 inch

€1,502

Painting, Sixth Floor, Keti Shapatava

Sixth Floor

Keti Shapatava

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2.3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.9 inch

€2,000

Painting, Serenade 2, Soonnam Kim

Serenade 2

Soonnam Kim

Painting - 45 x 45 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,900

Painting, Floral, Valérie Polizzano

Floral

Valérie Polizzano

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

€750

Painting, Putzen, Wolfgang Leber

Putzen

Wolfgang Leber

Painting - 30 x 20 x 0.2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€900

Painting, Untitled, Henri Michaux

Untitled

Henri Michaux

Painting - 38.3 x 57 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.1 x 22.4 x 0 inch

€24,000

Painting, Lovers in love, Ta Byrne

Lovers in love

Ta Byrne

Painting - 119.4 x 170.2 x 2.5 cm Painting - 47 x 67 x 1 inch

€4,851

Painting, Torero, Alexis Gorodine

Torero

Alexis Gorodine

Painting - 39 x 29 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€2,000

Painting, Liminal I, Val Hudson

Liminal I

Val Hudson

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

€3,206

Painting, Misura, Beatrice Barni

Misura

Beatrice Barni

Painting - 150 x 150 x 3 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

€2,400

Painting, Silent, Xiao Yazhu

Silent

Xiao Yazhu

Painting - 60 x 60 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 inch

€750

Painting, Hidden, Elise Oudin Gilles

Hidden

Elise Oudin Gilles

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

€3,400

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Discover the selection of our experts

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, Discogolf, Ralph Resch

Discogolf

Ralph Resch

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

€1,050

Painting, Find a way, Poonam Choudhary

Find a way

Poonam Choudhary

Painting - 121.9 x 76.2 x 5.1 cm Painting - 48 x 30 x 2 inch

€728 €546

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, Pink arch, Procach Olesia

Pink arch

Procach Olesia

Painting - 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€615

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.