The photorealism art movement began in the late 1960s and early 1970s as artists began creating works where subjects were represented through extreme attention to detail that matched photographic sharpness. Photorealist artists strive to produce paintings and drawings that replicate the appearance of photographs so precisely they can easily be mistaken for real images when viewed initially. Photorealism became most popular during the 1970s because of its connection to the advancement of photography and the increased fascination with hyper-realistic representation. Photorealism reached an important landmark when the Whitney Museum of American Art displayed the "22 Realists" exhibition in 1970 featuring influential artists Chuck Close, Richard Estes, and Ralph Goings. By using methods like grids and projectors along with detailed brushwork these artists achieved the exact detail and precision that characterize photorealism. Photorealism turns its focus to urban environments, still lifes and portraits of ordinary subjects, presenting viewers with new ways of seeing familiar scenes. Photorealists produce artworks by expertly controlling light and shadow and texture which both defy real-world perceptions and push viewers to explore the frontier between artistic expression and photographic representation. Photorealism achieves such a high level of realistic detail that it merges art with life and prompts viewers to rethink their understanding of reality.