ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Contemporary realism

Contemporary realism is a way that artists make art that looks like things in real life. It’s like taking a picture with a camera, but instead of the camera, the artist uses paint, pencils or other things like that to make the picture.

Contemporary realism is all about showing things how they really are. It means that the artist tries to capture the world around them as accurately as possible. They try to make the art look like the thing they are painting or drawing as if you could just reach out and touch it.

Artists who make contemporary realism want to show the world in a true and honest way, so they choose subjects that are common or familiar like a person, a landscape or a still life painting of objects. They often work in fine detail, which means they put lots of little lines, colors, and shapes together to make the picture as accurate as possible.

Contemporary realism has been around for a long time, but there are still people who love it today. They think it is beautiful to look at and it helps them appreciate the world around them in a more thoughtful way.