Magic Realism

The turn of phrase of magic realism was invented by German photographer, art historian and art critic Franz Roh in 1925 when he wished to describe modern realist paintings that portrayed fantastical or dream-like topics as their subjects of attention. The term originates from Roh's book Nach Expressionismus: Magischer Realismus which translates as “After Expressionism: Magic Realism".

In 20th century European culture, Magic Realism partook in a reactionary movement against modern or avant-garde art, known as the return to order. This movement in the arts was largely founded around a philosophy that came as a result of the legacy of the First World War. Magic realist artists included Giorgio de Chirico, Alberto Savinio and others in Italy, and Alexander Kanoldt and Adolf Ziegler in neighboring Germany. Magic Realism is closely related to the dreamlike depictions of Surrealism and Neo-Romanticism in France. The term is also used to describe the work of certain painters from across the pond in America in the 1940s and 1950s including Paul Cadmus, Philip Evergood and Ivan Albright. It has also been known to describe the practices of literature, such as the writing of Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel García Márquez.

Discover on Artsper some of the best contemporary artists of the magic realist expression!

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Painting, Twin Flame, Nino Eliashvili

Twin Flame

Nino Eliashvili

Painting - 100 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

€20,000

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, Shadows, Olha Vlasova

Shadows

Olha Vlasova

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

€400

Painting, Crop milk, Serge Lecomte

Crop milk

Serge Lecomte

Painting - 76.2 x 76.2 x 2 cm Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.8 inch

€1,971

Painting, Ovaries, Serge Lecomte

Ovaries

Serge Lecomte

Painting - 76.2 x 76.2 x 2 cm Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.8 inch

€1,971

Painting, Dancer, Nino Eliashvili

Dancer

Nino Eliashvili

Painting - 80 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€5,500

Painting, Lonsome, Nino Eliashvili

Lonsome

Nino Eliashvili

Painting - 100 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

€6,000

Fine Art Drawings, Try to Wear Me, Nino Eliashvili

Try to Wear Me

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 68 x 53 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26.8 x 20.9 x 0 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Light Corset, Nino Eliashvili

Light Corset

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 56 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, I Hissing, Nino Eliashvili

I Hissing

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 47 x 62 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.5 x 24.4 x 0 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, G-Love, Nino Eliashvili

G-Love

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 52.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 20.7 x 0 inch

€1,700

Fine Art Drawings, Fluffy Style, Nino Eliashvili

Fluffy Style

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 65 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch

€1,500

Painting, Quiet life, Elena Shichko

Quiet life

Elena Shichko

Painting - 50 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Golden fish, Elena Shichko

Golden fish

Elena Shichko

Painting - 50 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,900

Painting, Lost world, Elena Shichko

Lost world

Elena Shichko

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

€2,500

Painting, Pet lover, Olha Vlasova

Pet lover

Olha Vlasova

Painting - 20 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Finger Crossed, Nino Eliashvili

Finger Crossed

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings - 63 x 47 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24.8 x 18.5 x 0 inch

€2,700