What is Fantastic Realism?

Fantastic Realism (Phantastischer Realismus) originated with the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism in post-World War II Austria. Artists including Ernst Fuchs, Arik Brauer, and Rudolf Hausner combined Old Master painting techniques with fantastical, often mystical subject matter. The movement emphasizes technical virtuosity-meticulous glazing, detailed draftsmanship-applied to dreamlike or visionary content. Unlike Surrealism’s emphasis on the unconscious, Fantastic Realism often draws on mythology, religion, and conscious symbolic systems. The Vienna School profoundly influenced Visionary Art and continues inspiring artists who combine classical technique with imaginative content. H.R. Giger cited Ernst Fuchs as a major influence.