What is Imitationalism?
Imitationalism refers to art that focuses on things being
realistically represented.
Imitationalism is a theory of art that judge’s artwork based on how real it looks. An
Imitationalist is focused on creating art that looks as real as possible and believes that artistic
success can only be achieved through the exact recreation of an image. From an Imitationalist
viewpoint, if an artwork does not look real or believable it is not of any value. Some extreme
Imitationalists have used their talent for recreating believable space and form to create works
of art that make you think they are actually real. This method of painting is called trompe l'oeil,
a French phrase that means “to fool the eye” and that is exactly what it does. Below are some
examples of how artists use this theory of judgment to both gain recognition in the art world
and to have some fun.
Edward Collier, the artist who painted this
image has mastered the French Imitationalist
technique of “fooling the eye”. If you were to
see this painting hanging on a wall, the papers
look so real you might start to reach out to
pluck them from out under the leather.
At our very own art museum in Indianapolis,
the IMA, we have a few works of art that are
very similar to this work here. (And they
really do look real enough to touch!)
The illusionistic perspective of Andrea Pozzo's trompe-l'oeil dome at Sant'Ignazio (1685) creates
an illusion of an actual architectural space on what is, in actuality, a slightly concave painted
surface. ----Wikipedia
Andrea Mantegna, Di sotto in sù ceiling fresco in the Camera degli Sposi of the Palazzo Ducale in
Mantua.
Other forms of Imitationalism that are not necessarily meant to “fool the eye” or make you think
they are real include portraits of people meant to catch the likeness of the person- or to look just
like them. Can you think of any other examples of Imitationalistic art?
This image is a portrait painted by Chuck Close. An imitationalist would think very highly of his
work. Why do you think this is?
What does an Imitationalist not care about?

An imitationalist is not impressed by beautiful colors or extreme
textures.

An imitationalist does not think that the story behind an artwork
is important or worthy of value.

Imitationalist can’t see the importance in hearing the artist’s
point of view or in feeling an emotion from a work of art.
An Imitationalist would say…
Below is a photorealistic painting
Done by Ralph Goings
“Heavens, Ralph! Those bottles are
the most impressive sample of
painting I’ve ever seen! Gracious
Lord, those reflections…unbelievably
realistic…and that catsup, simply
edible. “