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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Sarah et les fantômes
Chloé Kaemmerer
Painting - 50 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 24 x 0.8 inch
€1,300
Altar de Psique
Pere Bennàssar Obrador
Painting - 175 x 175 x 2 cm Painting - 68.9 x 68.9 x 0.8 inch
€10,500
Altar de Eco
Pere Bennàssar Obrador
Painting - 180 x 180 x 3 cm Painting - 70.9 x 70.9 x 1.2 inch
€11,000
Altar de Cronos
Pere Bennàssar Obrador
Painting - 130 x 130 x 3 cm Painting - 51.2 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch
€9,500
Dreaming of Another World - Rêver d'un autre monde
Cecile Gonne Victoria
Painting - 55 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
€590
Pasifae
Pere Bennàssar Obrador
Painting - 130 x 195 x 1.5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 76.8 x 0.6 inch
€9,000
La expulsión del paraíso
Kate Kalashnikov
Painting - 116 x 89 x 4 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1.6 inch
€3,500
Expectations in the new city
Judith Berry
Painting - 152.4 x 304.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 60 x 120 x 2 inch
€14,000
Bending roads and targets (triptyque)
Judith Berry
Painting - 33 x 238.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 13 x 94 x 2 inch
€5,700
Hand to hand diptych
Judith Berry
Painting - 106.7 x 132.1 x 5.1 cm Painting - 42 x 52 x 2 inch
€6,700
The Weight of My Face
Judith Berry
Painting - 106.7 x 152.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 42 x 60 x 2 inch
€6,000
La liberación de Afrodita
Rocio Mazuecos
Painting - 240 x 150 x 4 cm Painting - 94.5 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch
€8,000
Essere, pensare, agire
Antonio Presti
Painting - 90 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
€1,600
Alice searches for her wonderland - Alice recherche son pays des merveilles
Cecile Gonne Victoria
Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch
€750
Los faunos atacando el asfalto parisino
Miguel Amate
Painting - 170 x 230 x 2 cm Painting - 66.9 x 90.6 x 0.8 inch
€14,000
Cap vers le soleil
Patrick Delorme
Painting - 39 x 29 x 0.01 cm Painting - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0 inch
€630
Le tombeau du christ
Patrick Delorme
Painting - 39 x 29 x 0.01 cm Painting - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0 inch
€630
Hommages au soleil
Patrick Delorme
Painting - 39 x 29 x 0.01 cm Painting - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0 inch
€630
I Leave My Days Like Autumn Forest Leaves
Ovidiu Kloska
Painting - 80 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
€1,200
Enigma of Creation Greyscape Divine Silence
Ovidiu Kloska
Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
€1,250
Structure de la folie - le Rêve
Julie Ruelle
Painting - 116 x 75 x 3 cm Painting - 45.7 x 29.5 x 1.2 inch
€2,500
Les veilleurs de la nuit
Françoise Leblond
Painting - 81 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 23.6 x 1 inch
€3,090
Morning Fog In Ius Chasma, Mars
Pascal Lee
Painting - 61 x 91.4 x 3.8 cm Painting - 24 x 36 x 1.5 inch
€2,195
The Sea of Samsara
Diana Malivani
Painting - 150 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 59.1 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch
€60,000
La luna duerme y sueña
Micaela Piñero
Painting - 29.7 x 21 x 2 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.8 inch
€1,500
Le lézard s'enivre de soleil
Marc Janson
Painting - 73 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 1 inch
€2,900
Black Samovar, New Things Series
Alexander Lufer
Painting - 120 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
€4,300
Structure de la folie
Julie Ruelle
Painting - 116 x 75 x 3 cm Painting - 45.7 x 29.5 x 1.2 inch
€2,500
The Dreamed Life of IAlice - La vie révée d'IAlice
Cecile Gonne Victoria
Painting - 80 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
€1,290
La luna llora y el ángel descansa
Micaela Piñero
Painting - 230 x 130 x 2 cm Painting - 90.6 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch
€4,800
L'armoire mange le bourdon
RG RG
Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
€1,800
Destruction of humanity
Aziz Anzabi
Painting - 102 x 102 x 4 cm Painting - 40.2 x 40.2 x 1.6 inch
€12,000
Daydreaming
Katarina Olympia Zaraj
Painting - 50 x 100 x 3.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 39.4 x 1.4 inch
€888
Jeune fille au chapeau bleu
Marie Tissot
Painting - 60 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch
€1,900
La messagère de l'Olympe
Carole Framezelle - Acmiya
Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
€3,500
Le cri dans la nuit
Diane Bellier
Painting - 120 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
€1,500
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.