Overview of the Realism Art Movement

Realism Overview

• Realism was an art movement reacting against the emotional and exaggerated themes of Romanticism.
• Artists and writers focused on depicting the reality of everyday life.
• The Realism movement lasted roughly forty years, from 1840 to 1880.
• It followed the Romanticism movement and preceded Modern Art.

Characteristics of Realism

• Realism artists aimed to portray the real world as it appeared.
• They depicted everyday subjects and people.
• Artists avoided interpreting the setting or adding emotional meaning.

Realism Art Examples

• The Gleaners (Jean-François Millet): A painting showcasing peasant women collecting leftover wheat. It depicted the harsh realities of poverty and was not well-received by the French upper class when first exhibited in 1857.
• Young Women from the Village (Gustave Courbet): A painting that contrasted with Romantic ideals. Courbet showcased the unidealized reality of the people and the landscape. The figures were dressed in practical clothing, and the environment was not romanticized, criticized for its "reality."
• The Fox Hunt (Winslow Homer): Depicts a hungry fox in pursuit of food, along with ravens similarly driven by hunger. It highlights the harsh realities of winter for animals.

Famous Realist Artists

• Gustave Courbet: A leading French Realist artist, known for using art as social commentary.
• Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot: A French landscape painter who transitioned from Romanticism to Realism.
• Honoré Daumier: A French painter renowned for his caricatures of famous people.
• Thomas Eakins: An American Realist painter, known for portraits and landscapes, including The Gross Clinic.
• Winslow Homer: An American artist famous for his ocean and other landscape paintings.
• Édouard Manet: A key figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
• Jean-François Millet: A French Realist painter known for his farm peasant subjects.

Interesting Facts about Realism

• The Realism movement began in France following the 1848 revolution.
• Unlike other art movements, Realism had less sculpture and architecture.
• Towards the end of the movement, a group of English artists, poets, and critics, called Pre-Raphaelites, emerged. They believed High Renaissance art was superior.
• The invention of photography influenced the rise of Realism.

This quiz provides a detailed overview of the Realism art movement, highlighting its characteristics, key artists, and significant artworks. Participants will explore how Realism reacted against Romanticism and its focus on depicting everyday life from 1840 to 1880.