Inner land-escape IV
Ástríður J. Ólafsdóttir
Painting - 60 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
€7,000
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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Inner land-escape I
Ástríður J. Ólafsdóttir
Painting - 50 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
€6,000
Rigenerazione
Ástríður J. Ólafsdóttir
Painting - 80 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
€7,500
Solitudine Contemplativa
Ástríður J. Ólafsdóttir
Painting - 60 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
€7,000
Set of 10 Arcanos. From the Ventura Series
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 54 x 85 x 0.3 cm Painting - 21.3 x 33.5 x 0.1 inch
€3,384
Becoming the tea
Allison M. Low
Painting - 29 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.4 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
€1,400
Egg girl flying
Suthamma (Ta) Byrne
Painting - 90 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 35.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
€2,670
Waiting For Spring
Miyuki Takanashi
Painting - 33.4 x 24.3 x 3 cm Painting - 13.1 x 9.6 x 1.2 inch
€450
Mielikki, déesse des forêts
Farid Saâdi
Painting - 65 x 54 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch
€3,500
Osiris, Anubis, Horus
Catherine Clare
Painting - 130 x 97 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch
€2,600
Offrande du Pharaon suivi du Dieu Thot
Catherine Clare
Painting - 114 x 96 x 2 cm Painting - 44.9 x 37.8 x 0.8 inch
€2,800
Contabass on langeron
Kateryniuk Oleg
Painting - 130 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
€4,200
The Walking People-Houses
Yassen Grigorov
Painting - 29.5 x 39.5 x 3 cm Painting - 11.6 x 15.6 x 1.2 inch
€2,000
Rêve et voyage Fantastique d'un Enfant
José Perez Hernandez
Painting - 100 x 100 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 2 inch
€2,000
From the series Ecology of soul and nature V
Mykola Mamchur
Painting - 50 x 60 x 0.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
€2,200
From the series Ecology of soul and nature II
Mykola Mamchur
Painting - 50 x 60 x 0.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
€2,200
Origen del Deseo - Ritmo del Despertar
Mari Ito
Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch
€6,900
Origen del Deseo - Buen Rollo I
Mari Ito
Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
€7,624
Abstract Creation
Michael Gorban
Painting - 80 x 140 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 55.1 x 1.2 inch
€3,790
Early-blooming flowers
Trayko Popov
Painting - 70 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
€2,800
Amour, gloire et ecstasy (pack bonus)
JP Malot
Painting - 50 x 70 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 inch
€999
Le lit de la rivière #1
Hélène Duclos
Painting - 116 x 178 x 5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 70.1 x 2 inch
€8,500
San Giorgio ed ilDrago
Mario Pratesi
Painting - 90 x 158 x 0.01 cm Painting - 35.4 x 62.2 x 0 inch
€1,000
La culture de nos ambitions
Christos Kalfas
Painting - 90 x 100 cm Painting - 35.4 x 39.4 inch
€4,000
A Man Brushing up the Sky
Hiromi Sengoku
Painting - 146 x 114 x 5 cm Painting - 57.5 x 44.9 x 2 inch
€5,050
Lover's Dairy (Late Night Text)
Ayanwale Joseph Oluwafemi
Painting - 121.9 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 48 x 48 x 1 inch
€2,607
Jkin chuu ngasundie (animals from earth)
Filogonio Naxín
Painting - 90 x 72 cm Painting - 35.4 x 28.3 inch
€1,350
Draw the Table-Variation
Fan Hong
Painting - 70 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 27.6 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
€2,700
Draw a Table-Variation
Fan Hong
Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
€4,000
Draw the table Variation
Fan Hong
Painting - 80 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch
€3,800
Draw The Table - The Secret Life
Fan Hong
Painting - 100 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch
€3,200
Flight with the Pegasus
Yulia Belasla
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
€2,652
La petite reine des oiseaux - Monotype, figuratif et collage
Denise Crolle-Terzaghi
Painting - 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch
€215
Masque (J'ai rêvé d'un scarabée)
Arnaud Gautron
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
€1,000
L'homme aux dauphins - Paysage marin fantastique
Michèle Vincent
Painting - 61 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€425
The Tea Guardian
Allison M. Low
Painting - 53 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting - 20.9 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch
€1,950
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
Et rugir de plaisir
Bengt Lindström
Painting - 115 x 84 x 1 cm Painting - 45.3 x 33.1 x 0.4 inch
€9,500
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.