Poetry of Daily Life
The tradition of depicting everyday life in art dates back to the 17th century in Europe, when artists turned away from idealized depictions of royalty and classical figures. These artists instead created representations of contemporary life and ordinary people, known as “genre painting." With the elimination of any imagined or idealized content, genre paintings were rooted in the reality of modern life.
Since this period, artists have turned increasingly to the contemporary world as artistic inspiration. From photography to painting to fine art drawing, artists of diverse forms and styles look for the beauty in their present, lived reality as the principal source of inspiration for their work. Some of our current favorite artists inspired by the everyday include Jean-Christophe Béchet, whose photographs capture candid moments in both urban and natural settings, and Isabelle Lebret, who illustrates the poetry of the human form in her monochrome portrait paintings. Discover the works of these artists among many others inspired by the poetry of everyday life, today!
Théo Gosselin
Lost and Found
Théo Gosselin
Photography - 40 x 60 x 2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$1,346
Clara Delaporte
La Maison Rose
Clara Delaporte
Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,122
California II
Clara Delaporte
Photography - 40 x 60 x 4 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch
$1,122
California I
Clara Delaporte
Photography - 40 x 60 x 4 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch
$1,122
Xavier-Alexandre Pons
Nouveau départ
Xavier-Alexandre Pons
Photography - 100 x 100 x 1 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
$2,356
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Eureka Car
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 90 x 74 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 29.1 x 0 inch
$1,896
Djenné, Mali
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 24 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 9.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$774
Tamanrasset, Algerie
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$774
Macadam Color, Hong Kong
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 26 x 39 x 0.1 cm Photography - 10.2 x 15.4 x 0 inch
$774
Eureka, USA
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$774
Gruyaert, Le Touquet, France
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$774
Groenland
Jean-Christophe Béchet
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$774
Maud Chalard
Lost and Found
Maud Chalard
Photography - 40 x 60 x 2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$1,795
Lost and Found
Maud Chalard
Photography - 40 x 53.3 x 2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 21 x 0.8 inch
$1,795
Lost and Found
Maud Chalard
Photography - 60 x 40 x 2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,795
Alain Le Garsmeur
St Louis Ladies
Alain Le Garsmeur
Photography - 51 x 61 x 0.01 cm Photography - 20.1 x 24 x 0 inch
$982
Daily Bread - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print
Alain Le Garsmeur
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$668
Harlem rain
Alain Le Garsmeur
Photography - 76 x 101 x 0.1 cm Photography - 29.9 x 39.8 x 0 inch
$998
Waiting to cross
Alain Le Garsmeur
Photography - 51 x 76 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20.1 x 29.9 x 0 inch
$729
Amtrak Dining Car - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print
Alain Le Garsmeur
Photography - 121 x 182 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.6 x 71.7 x 0 inch
$1,621
Hélène Hubert
Isabelle Lebret
Jean-Claude Mathier
Parcelles de vigne
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 80 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$1,241
Chapelle de Mario Botta
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 100 x 150 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch
$1,448
Islande sauvage 2
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 70 x 105 x 1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.4 inch
$850
Marais salants
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 80 x 200 x 2 cm Photography - 31.5 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,724
Langage des mains 2
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch
$1,126
Huelva 1
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 70 x 105 x 1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.4 inch
$850
Marais salants 1
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 80 x 120 x 1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch
$1,241
Architecture 1
Jean-Claude Mathier
Photography - 80 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$1,241
Brian Otieno
What do you have in mind?
Brian Otieno
Photography - 60 x 90 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch
$1,458
Mathematics Corner
Brian Otieno
Photography - 60 x 60 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,458
Slum fashionista
Brian Otieno
Photography - 60 x 90 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch
$2,468
Such in a rush
Brian Otieno
Photography - 60 x 90 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch
$1,458
Looking at you
Brian Otieno
Photography - 60 x 90 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch
$1,458
Artists in post-apocalyptic costumes
Brian Otieno
Photography - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,458