{"id":27931,"date":"2026-05-12T23:38:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T03:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/?p=27931"},"modified":"2026-05-12T23:38:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T03:38:59","slug":"photorealism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/2026\/05\/12\/photorealism\/","title":{"rendered":"How Did They Do That? \u2018Photorealism in Focus\u2019 at Brandeis\u2019s Rose Art Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The paintings and sculptures in the survey exhibition \u201cPhotorealism in Focus\u201d at Brandeis University\u2019s Rose Art Museum<\/a> in Waltham from Feb. 11 to May 31, 2026, dazzle with the handcraft the produces wondrously realistic feeling (or photographically realistic feeling) art. It\u2019s the wow of how did they do that!?! How did they make those portraits feel so present? How does that giant tumble of apples seem so real? How did they make those scenes of grungy Manhattan streets feel like you\u2019re right there? It often feels like magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmerging in the late 1960s, Photorealism redefined the relationship between painting and photography, embracing technical precision to create images that blur the boundary between illusion and reality,\u201d the exhibition website says<\/a>. \u201cThe exhibition highlights the movement\u2019s continued relevance and evolution, showcasing a range of subjects from urban landscapes to psychologically charged portraits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\""Photorealism
“Photorealism in Focus” at Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, February 2026. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photorealism arrived in reaction to the contemporaneous rise of cool minimalist abstraction and the deadpan realism of early 1960s New York Pop art, which was a response to the cosmic emotionalism of New York 1940s and \u201950 Abstract Expressionism. By so closely imitating photos, it continued the formal exploration of the other styles, while being freshly rooted in contemporary gritty New York reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition is somewhat light on the famous names of the founding of the movement. Richard Estes, who is still busy painting in Maine, gets three paintings; the late Chuck Close, whose reputation took a hit when several women accused him<\/a> of sexual harassment<\/a> late in life, gets one post-photorealist painting; and the late sculptor Duane Hanson is absent. In exchange, Rose Director Gannit Ankori thankfully adds in a few women, who were often left out of the original telling\u2014like Audrey Flack\u2014and others active in more recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Audrey
Audrey Flack, Shiva Blue, 1972\u20131973. Oil and acrylic on canvas. Heiskell Family Collection. Image courtesy of Louis K. Meisel Gallery. \u00a9 Estate of Audrey Flack.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even adding the new art, it can feel like the movement is still a time machine to the 1960s, still enamored by vintage neon signs, glass storefronts, old cars, gritty New York streets, and vintage toys. Perhaps that retro feel is most epitomized by John DeAndrea’s incredibly realistic 2006 sculpture <\/strong>“Amber (reclining)” of a naked lady laying on the ground\u2014in seeming anticipation of vintage male leers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randall Rosenthal’s tricky sculptures, like “Smithsonian Hush Money,” 2024, of piles of documents precisely carved from wood (!) and painted add a frisson of meaning to the movement that is mostly focused on eye candy. All that stunning visual dazzle can leave an empty aftertaste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by\u00a0contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And\u00a0sign up for our free, occasional newsletter<\/a>\u00a0so that you don’t miss any of our reporting. (All content \u00a9 Greg Cook 2026 or the respective creato<\/em>rs.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"David
David Buchanan Parrish, “Yamaha,” 1978, Oil on linen (left), in “Photorealism in Focus” at Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, February 2026. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Randall
Randall Rosenthal, “Smithsonian Hush Money,” 2024, Acrylic and ink on carved pine.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Robert
Robert Cottingham, Discount Store, 1970. Oil on canvas. Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Herbert W. Plimpton Collection, 1993.29.27. Charles Mayer Photography. Courtesy Rose Art Museum. \u00a9 Robert Cottingham.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"David
David Buchanan Parrish, Yamaha, 1978. Oil on linen. Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Herbert W. Plimpton Collection, 1993.29.18. Charles Mayer Photography. Courtesy Rose Art Museum. \u00a9 David Buchanan Parrish.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Richard
Richard Estes, “Times Square at 3:53 PM, Winter, 1985,” 1985, Oil on canvas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Raphaella
Raphaella Spence, Brooklyn Bridge, 2014. Oil on canvas. Heiskell Family Collection. Image courtesy of Louis K. Meisell Gallery. \u00a9 Raphaella Spence.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\""Photorealism
“Photorealism in Focus” at Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, February 2026. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Robert
Robert Alan Bechtle, “Santa Barbara Motel,” 1977, Oil on canvas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Chuck
Chuck Close, “Susan,” 1987, Oil on canvas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Charles
Charles S. Bell, “Gumballs III,” 1973, Oil on canvas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"John
John DeAndrea, “Amber (reclining),” 2006, painted bronze with mixed media. In “Photorealism in Focus” at Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, February 2026. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Bernando
Bernando Torrens, Ana B. II, 2020. Acrylic on wood. Courtesy of Louis K. and Susan P. Meisel. Image courtesy of Louis K. Meisell Gallery. \u00a9 Bernando Torrens.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Davis
Davis Cone, “Cameo,” 1988 Acrylic on canvas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\""Photorealism
“Photorealism in Focus” at Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, February 2026. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Rod
Rod Penner, “54 Grill Vaughn, NM,” 2014, Acrylic on canvas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Don
Don Jacot, “Space Guns,” 2008, Oil on canvas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Charles
Charles S. Bell, Cat, 1973. Oil on canvas. Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Gift of Jonathan Novak, 2004.14. Charles Mayer Photography. Courtesy Rose Art Museum. \u00a9 2026 Estate of Charles S. Bell.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ralph
Ralph Ladell Goings, Still Life with Sugars, 1978. Oil on canvas. Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Zachary, 2003.2.1. Charles Mayer Photography. Courtesy Rose Art Museum. \u00a9 Goings Family Estate.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Joyce
Joyce Stillman-Myers, Multi-Joy, 1990. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of Louis K. and Susan P. Meisel. Image courtesy of Louis K. Meisel Galley. \u00a9 Joyce Stillman-Myers.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\""Photorealism
“Photorealism in Focus” at Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, February 2026. (\u00a9Greg Cook photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The paintings and sculptures in the survey exhibition \u201cPhotorealism in Focus\u201d at Brandeis University\u2019s Rose Art Museum in Waltham from Feb. 11 to May 31, 2026, dazzle with the handcraft the produces wondrously realistic feeling (or photographically realistic feeling) art. It\u2019s the wow of how did they do that!?! How did they make those portraits […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27258,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[1397,1398,1395,1396,1295],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27931"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27931"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27931\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27973,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27931\/revisions\/27973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27931"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}