The Return of the Figure: A Rejection of Abstraction

For decades, abstract expressionism and its various offshoots dominated the art world. Bold colors, gestural brushstrokes, and the absence of recognizable forms held sway. But a quiet shift has been underway, a resurgence of interest in figuration, in depicting the human form and the world around us with a renewed sense of realism. This isn’t a simple return to the realism of the 19th century, however. This new classicism is informed by contemporary anxieties, techniques, and perspectives.

Hyperrealism’s Meticulous Gaze: Beyond Photographic Accuracy

Hyperrealism, a prominent facet of this new realism,