Realism emerged as a response to the Industrial Revolution and social changes of the 19th century. Artists began depicting modern life's realities, focusing on everyday scenes and working-class struggles. This shift marked a departure from idealized Romantic themes.

Realist artists used techniques like chiaroscuro and naturalistic color palettes to create convincing illusions of reality. They tackled social issues, challenging artistic conventions and paving the way for future movements like Impressionism and socially engaged art.

Realism: Social and Political Influences

Industrial Revolution and Social Changes

• Industrial Revolution and urbanization inspired artists to depict modern life realities
• Growing middle class desired art reflecting their experiences and values
• Rise of socialism and workers' movements focused art on social issues
• Artists highlighted conditions of lower classes and working class struggles

Philosophical and Technological Influences

• Aftermath of failed 1848 European revolutions led to disillusionment with Romanticism
• Artists sought more truthful representation in art
• Development of photography in mid-19th century challenged artists
  • Pushed painters towards more accurate depictions to compete with camera's realism
• Positivist philosophy emphasized observable facts and scientific methods
  • Encouraged artists to adopt a more objective approach to subjects

Realism: Key Characteristics and Techniques

Subject Matter and Representation

• Artists focused on contemporary subjects and everyday life scenes
• Rejected idealized or mythological themes common in earlier movements
• Emphasized accurate representation of textures, materials, and surfaces
  • Created convincing illusion of reality (fabric textures, skin tones, environmental details)
• Incorporated social commentary and critique within artworks
  • Highlighted societal inequalities (poverty, labor conditions, class disparities)

Artistic Techniques and Composition

• Used chiaroscuro and tenebrism techniques for dramatic lighting effects
  • Enhanced sense of three-dimensionality in paintings
• Adopted subdued and naturalistic color palette
  • Moved away from vivid hues often used in Romantic paintings
• Preferred larger canvases and life-sized figures
  • Created sense of immediacy and presence in depicted scenes
• Paid attention to precise anatomical details and facial expressions
  • Conveyed emotional and psychological states of subjects

Prominent Realist Artists and their Contributions

French Realists

• Gustave Courbet
  • "The Stone Breakers" exemplified focus on working-class subjects
  • "A Burial at Ornans" rejected academic conventions in composition
• Jean-François Millet
  • "The Gleaners" elevated everyday rural scenes to high art status
  • "The Angelus" highlighted agricultural life and laborers
• Honoré Daumier
  • Satirical lithographs and paintings used Realism for social critique
  • "The Third-Class Carriage" provided political commentary on class divisions
• Édouard Manet
  • "Olympia" pushed boundaries by combining contemporary subjects with classical art references
  • "The Luncheon on the Grass" paved the way for Modernism

International Realists

• Rosa Bonheur
  • "The Horse Fair" showcased mastery in depicting animals with scientific accuracy
  • Challenged gender norms in the art world
• Thomas Eakins
  • "The Gross Clinic" represented American contribution to Realism
  • Focused on scientific and medical themes with unflinching detail
• Ilya Repin
  • "Barge Haulers on the Volga" exemplified Russian Realism
  • Addressed social issues and national identity through monumental paintings

Realism's Impact on Art: Departure from Tradition

Challenging Artistic Conventions

• Realism elevated scenes of everyday life and working-class subjects
  • Challenged academic hierarchy of genres previously dominated by historical and mythological paintings
• Rejected idealization in favor of truthful representation
  • Led to controversies and debates about nature and purpose of art in society
• Eroded traditional salon system
  • Contributed to rise of independent exhibitions and alternative art spaces

Influence on Subsequent Movements

• Emphasis on contemporary subjects and social issues paved way for later avant-garde movements
  • Influenced development of Impressionism and Expressionism
• Focus on objective observation impacted other artistic fields
  • Influenced development of naturalism in literature
  • Contributed to emergence of documentary photography
• Realist techniques and approaches to light and color had lasting impact
  • Influenced development of plein-air painting in Impressionism
• Established precedent for art as means of addressing political and societal issues
  • Influenced socially engaged art movements of 20th and 21st centuries