Art imitates life in the work of the realists. Through painting, photography, and sculpture, 20th century realists invoke reality in works that capture what Freud called "the uncanny"—the inexplicable strangeness of something which seems at once real and not real.

Featured artists include:

Arman, Francis Bacon, Balthus, Max Beckmann, Robert Bechtle, Karl Blossfeldt, Isaac Israilewitch Brodsky, Cagnaccio di San Pietro, Vija Celmins, Chuck Close, Alexander Dejneka, Otto Dix, Walker Evans, Eric Fischl, Lucian Freud, Leon Golub, Duane Hanson, Edward Hopper, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, Tamara Lempicka, Wolfgang Mattheuer, Giorgio Morandi, Ron Mueck, Felix Nussbaum, Gordon Parks, Philip Pearlstein, Anton Raderscheidt, Gerhard Richter, Diego Rivera, Christian Schad, Charles Sheeler, Ben Shahn, Daniel Spoerri, and Werner Tubke.