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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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Painting, Tedmu, Stefano Mazzolini

Tedmu

Stefano Mazzolini

Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

Painting, Zise, Kusbudiyanto

Zise

Kusbudiyanto

Painting - 150 x 150 x 4 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch

€3,800

Painting, Seribu Mata, Kusbudiyanto

Seribu Mata

Kusbudiyanto

Painting - 100 x 140 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 55.1 x 1.6 inch

€3,099

Painting, Pégase, Bernard Vié

Pégase

Bernard Vié

Painting - 120 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

€3,000

Painting, Piazza, Bernard Vié

Piazza

Bernard Vié

Painting - 120 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

€3,000

Painting, Pure soul, Liubou Sas

Pure soul

Liubou Sas

Painting - 135 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 53.1 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€4,200

Painting, Student, David Popiashvili

Student

David Popiashvili

Painting - 45 x 25 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€2,734

Painting, Poet, David Popiashvili

Poet

David Popiashvili

Painting - 45 x 25 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€2,734

Painting, Ivy, Miyuki Takanashi

Ivy

Miyuki Takanashi

Painting - 72.7 x 60.6 x 3 cm Painting - 28.6 x 23.9 x 1.2 inch

€3,000

Painting, Horizon, Nino Nasidze

Horizon

Nino Nasidze

Painting - 90 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€2,700

Painting, Fantomes, Sylvie Cappe

Fantomes

Sylvie Cappe

Painting - 65 x 92 x 1.5 cm Painting - 25.6 x 36.2 x 0.6 inch

€920

Painting, Destiny, Nathalie Thengius

Destiny

Nathalie Thengius

Painting - 100 x 150 x 3.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 1.4 inch

€7,500

Painting, Reflection, Osse Müller

Reflection

Osse Müller

Painting - 28 x 28 x 0.75 cm Painting - 11 x 11 x 0.3 inch

€1,825

Painting, Snake Arch, David Supper

Snake Arch

David Supper

Painting - 99.1 x 99.1 x 2 cm Painting - 39 x 39 x 0.8 inch

€1,378

Painting, Femme Puzzle, Corine Lescop

Femme Puzzle

Corine Lescop

Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€3,900

Painting, Cute babies, Olha Vlasova

Cute babies

Olha Vlasova

Painting - 24 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, Unicorn, Voichenko Sergiy

Unicorn

Voichenko Sergiy

Painting - 65 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

€830

Painting, Who R U?, Niki Singleton

Who R U?

Niki Singleton

Painting - 30.48 x 40.64 x 2 cm Painting - 12 x 16 x 0.8 inch

€2,533

Painting, Gémeaux, Albena Vatcheva

Gémeaux

Albena Vatcheva

Painting - 43 x 43 x 0.3 cm Painting - 16.9 x 16.9 x 0.1 inch

€475

Painting, La lyre, Albena Vatcheva

La lyre

Albena Vatcheva

Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, Rêverie, Albena Vatcheva

Rêverie

Albena Vatcheva

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

€230

Painting, Jade, Esther Barend

Jade

Esther Barend

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€6,900

Painting, The optimist, Esther Barend

The optimist

Esther Barend

Painting - 150 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 59.1 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€13,500

Painting, Lumpen, Boris OA

Lumpen

Boris OA

Painting - 92 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 36.2 x 24 x 0.8 inch

€2,000

Painting, Untitled, Simón Vázquez

Untitled

Simón Vázquez

Painting - 120 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

€3,600

Painting, Chimère 6, Louis Vairel

Chimère 6

Louis Vairel

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

€2,300

Painting, Samson, Mykola Mamchur

Samson

Mykola Mamchur

Painting - 60 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Warteschleife, Andrea Lein

Warteschleife

Andrea Lein

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

€1,200

Painting, Blue Hat, Albena Vatcheva

Blue Hat

Albena Vatcheva

Painting - 18.5 x 18.5 x 2 cm Painting - 7.3 x 7.3 x 0.8 inch

€139

Painting, Avec toi, Albena Vatcheva

Avec toi

Albena Vatcheva

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€199

Painting, Angel Basquiat, PyB

Angel Basquiat

PyB

Painting - 38 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€280

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Discover the selection of our experts

Print, Balance, Irena Aizen

Balance

Irena Aizen

Print - 25.5 x 22.5 x 1 cm Print - 10 x 8.9 x 0.4 inch

€648

Print, Dream, Insane 51

Dream

Insane 51

Print - 70 x 70 cm Print - 27.6 x 27.6 inch

€1,490

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.