The details she chooses may be realistic (true to life) or mundane (ordinary, everyday), yet the more lifelike and unremarkable they are, the more fantastic the paintings seem.

Notice the very first word: paradoxically. Eventually, it is a paradox that she depicts the landscapes so realistic and not with fancy explanations. Really gaunt. However, the result is fantastic.

Hope now is more clear to you.

regards

Can some one explain this?? @Carcass

Thank you @Carcass this makes sense. Appreciate your help!

B,D

The artist will able to depict her fantastic, other-worldly landscapes when she adds more fine and real details. But due to the word paradoxically, this is may not be the situation. So details may be unrealistic or less fine. So ethereal and extravagant should go with the blank.

Please advise where am I getting wrong

Paradoxically, the more ________ the details this artist chooses, the better able she is to depict her fantastic, other-worldly landscapes. ​

Think of "Avatar" Movie - The more realistic the trees and animals are depicted. The better understanding we'd get of otherworldly planet.

Hence Realistic and Mundane should be the Answers.

Doesn't ethereal fit the blank instead of realistic? Ethereal (out of the world beauty), since "depict her fantastic, otherworldly landscapes"

The first word is a paradox. It is a paradox that from a realistic landscape she is able to depict dreamlike or fantastic scenarios

Hope this helsp