Realism: An unadorned look at reality as it is

Realism, which was born in France in the mid-19th century, is an art movement that aimed to "portray reality as it is" in opposition to the idealization and beautification of earlier artistic views such as Romanticism and Neoclassicism. Painters such as Gustave Courbet, Jean-François Millet, and Honoré Daumier captured people such as workers and peasants, who had not previously been the subject of painting, as they were on canvas. In this article, we will explain the characteristics and historical background of realism, representative artists and their works, and the influence of realism in the modern era. artgraph.jp sells posters that faithfully reproduce the masterpieces of realist masters using high-definition giclee prints. Why not decorate your room with the powerful and true-to-life world that realism portrays?

What is Realism? - Moving Away from Idealization

Realism is an art movement that emerged in France in the mid-19th century. Unlike Romanticism and Neoclassicism, which pursued idealization and beautification, Realism sought to depict the reality of society and the rawness of everyday life. Realist painters depicted people who had not previously been the subject of painting, such as workers, peasants, and the poor, and denounced social issues and inequality. They also portrayed the landscapes and customs of modern society from an objective perspective, rather than traditional subjects such as mythology, history, and religion.

The characteristics of realism include the following:

• Faithful depiction of reality: Realist painters placed importance on depicting the subject as it really is. They tried to express the texture and presence of the subject by accurately depicting every detail. Courbet's "Burial at Ornans" is a detailed depiction of a funeral that took place in Courbet's hometown.
• Everyday subjects: Realist painters chose ordinary workers and peasants, not heroes or saints, as their protagonists. Millet's "The Gleaners" depicts poor rural women picking up the wheat left after the harvest in a dignified manner. Daumier's "The Third Class Carriage" depicts the people who rode in third-class carriages on railways at that time as they really were.
• Social Criticism: Realist painters used their works to denounce social inequality, poverty, and political corruption. Courbet's "Breaking the Stone" depicted people engaged in hard labor and sparked controversy as a work that raised social issues.

History of Realism - Industrial Revolution and Social Change

Realism was born in mid-19th century France against the backdrop of social change and political upheaval brought about by the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution accelerated urbanization and industrialization, increasing the gap between rich and poor and social unrest. Political conditions were also unstable, with the February Revolution of 1848 and the subsequent establishment of the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Realist painters reflected this social situation, faced reality head-on and produced works that denounced social issues.

Gustave Courbet, a leading figure of realism, once said, "I have never painted an angel, because I have never seen one." This quote well represents the spirit of realism. Realist painters tried to depict the real world as it is, not fantasy or ideals.

Representative artists and works of realism

Realism has many great artists, some of the most famous of which are Gustave Courbet, Jean-François Millet and Honoré Daumier.

• Gustave Courbet: A leading figure in realism. His monumental works such as "Burial at Ornans" and "The Stone Splitter" denounced the reality of society.
• Jean-Francois Millet: Known as a peasant painter. He depicted dignified aspects of peasant life in paintings such as "The Gleaners" and "The Sower."
• Honoré Daumier: caricaturist and printmaker. He portrayed the lives of the urban poor and working people in paintings such as "The Third Class Carriage" and "The Washerwoman."

The contemporary influence of realism

Since the second half of the 19th century, realism has influenced new art movements such as impressionism and symbolism. The spirit of realism has also contributed to the development of new media such as photography and film. Even today, realist expression can be seen in a variety of fields, including painting, photography, and film.

Realism is an important artistic movement that demonstrated the role of art in facing society and reflecting reality, and its spirit continues to be relevant in modern society.

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