Realistic and Expressive Fabric in Art

Artists can work realistically or expressively (or both).

Realistic Fabric: An artist can draw, paint, print or sculpt fabric so that it looks exactly like it does in real life. This is said to be realistic.

Da Vinci, Study of Drapery

Expressive Fabric: An artist can draw, paint, print or sculpt fabric so their impression (feelings) of fabric is expressed. It will be less realistic (abstracted), sometimes you will not even recognise it as fabric. This is said to be expressive.

De Kooning, Woman 1, c1951