Realism

Gustave Courbet opposed idealization and romanticization in art, advocating for artists to focus on everyday life and present issues. He believed that capturing real life was essential for creating truly democratic art, portraying ordinary people as symbols of the human struggle for survival.

The term realism first appeared in the Mercure français du XIXe siècle in 1826, describing a doctrine based on the truthful and accurate depiction of nature and contemporary life in art.

Édouard Manet, a French modernist painter, challenged the traditional notion that art should not address current issues. His straightforward portrayals of ordinary life, such as in his famous work 'Olympia', broke creative restraints and influenced future painters to explore new themes.

Honoré Daumier's lithograph depicted the aftermath of a government massacre of working-class residents in France. The emotional image highlighted government excess and participated in Realism's assault on traditional power structures.

Gustave Courbet was the leading proponent of Realism in France. He challenged the popular history painting favored at the state-sponsored art academy and depicted ordinary people in his groundbreaking paintings.

The Stone Breakers, a realist painting by Gustave Courbet, depicted an elderly and a young peasant smashing rocks to illustrate the rigorous work of impoverished people. It was destroyed in 1945 during World War Two, showing characteristics of Realism painting.

The drawing depicts the lives of everyday working people and their struggles as they go to their menial jobs each day, reflecting the sentiment of other Realism works.

The painting 'Young Ladies of the Village' by Gustave Courbet in 1852 exemplifies the photorealistic approach of Realism, depicting everyday life with meticulous details.

Rosa Bonheur's painting The Horse Fair, painted in 1853, is a significant example of Realist art depicting animals in a natural setting, aligning with the themes of Realism and showcasing a style similar to Naturalism.

In 1854, Gustave Courbet introduced the Realism movement in art, focusing on painting only what he could see and rejecting the idealized themes of Romanticism. His approach had a significant impact on the Impressionist artists.

After two of Courbet's major works were rejected by the jury of the 1855 Exposition Universelle in Paris, he displayed his paintings privately in his Pavillon du Réalisme, where he also wrote a Realist manifesto.

The painting 'The Gleaners' by Jean-François Millet, exhibited at the Salon of 1857, caused a scandal due to its honest portrayal of rural poverty, emphasizing the physical hardship of the task through the bent postures of the gleaners and heavy application of paint.

In 1861, Gustave Courbet emphasized the importance of representing real and existing things in art, which became a foundational principle of the Realist movement.

Winslow Homer's etching, The Battle for the Union, 1862- A Bayonet Charge, accurately captures the essence of war during that period. It is a prime example of Realist art, showcasing life in its raw and unembellished form.

In 1863, Édouard Manet submitted Le déjeuner sur l'herbe to the Salon of 1863, which was rejected but shown in the Salon des Refusés. The painting depicted two young dandies dining with a fully nude woman, challenging societal norms. In the same year, Manet submitted Olympia to the Salon of 1865, further pushing the boundaries with a provocative depiction of a bordello scene.

Around 1864, Honoré Daumier created a series of paintings depicting the experience of modern rail travel, showcasing the contrast between first-, second-, and third-class train compartments. The paintings illustrate the socioeconomic differences in the urban environment, with The First-Class Carriage portraying well-dressed figures with no interaction, and The Third-Class Carriage showing a crowded group of working-class individuals.

Auguste Renoir's work captures a scene from everyday life, showcasing the naturalistic details and lifelike poses typical of Realism art.

Courbet's influence was strongly felt in Germany, where prominent realists like Adolph Menzel, Wilhelm Leibl, Wilhelm Trübner, and Max Liebermann emerged. They met Courbet in 1869 when he visited Munich to exhibit his works.

As a result of Courbet's political activism during the Paris Commune of 1871, he was jailed and served a six-month prison sentence for participating in the destruction of the Vendôme Column. While incarcerated at Versailles, Courbet documented the conditions of children in his drawing Young Communards in Prison.

The Gross Clinic is a painting by Thomas Eakins depicting Dr. Samuel Gross performing surgery in an operating room with great detail and accuracy, showcasing Eakins' incorporation of photographic research and emphasis on portraying the personality of his subjects.

Edward Hopper, born in 1882, was a prominent American artist famous for works like Nighthawks. His contributions to modern art and his unique style have solidified his position in art history.

The painting by Ivan Kramskoi, Portrait of an Unknown Woman, faced resistance from the higher classes due to its emphasis on rural life and association with the Socialist movement. Despite this, it was allowed to be displayed at the Academy's Salon and was appreciated by French republicans for its depiction of the rural poor.

Jules Breton's painting depicted a peasant woman in a field, symbolizing hard work and fortitude. The work became popular for its less confrontational version of Realism and its glorification of labor.

The Child’s Bath, created in 1893 by Mary Cassatt, is another notable Realist artwork. It can be viewed at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Rosa Bonheur, a French artist born in 1822, was known for her realistic portrayals of animals and her success in prestigious art shows like the Paris Salon of 1848, breaking barriers for female painters of her time.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of Victorian era artists, had a significant impact on the development of modern art in England. Known for their Gothic romance and nature-focused landscapes, they depicted beautiful women, biblical scenes, and dramatic storytelling scenes.

Andrew Wyeth, an American artist, is known for his realistic paintings like 'Christina's World'. He focused on capturing the reality of daily life, portraying scenes with meticulous detail and emotional depth.

Painted in 1942, Nighthawks is one of Edward Hopper's most famous American realism artworks. It depicts the loneliness and alienation of modern life, inspired by the tragic aftermath of World War Two.

Andrew Wyeth's painting 'Christina's World' portrays a woman with a disability, Christina Olson, attempting to crawl across a field towards a farmhouse, symbolizing her strong ambition despite her physical limitations. The painting highlights themes of social isolation, the struggles of individuals with disabilities, and the desire to overcome obstacles.

Linda Nochlin's work 'Realism and Tradition in Art, 1848–1900: Sources and Documents' was published in 1966, providing valuable resources on the relationship between realism and tradition in art during the specified period.

Linda Nochlin published the book 'Realism' in 1971, offering a comprehensive exploration of the artistic movement.

Gary Tinterow's 'Introduction to Modern Europe / The Metropolitan Museum of Art' was published in 1987, offering insights into the art of modern Europe.

The article 'Nineteenth-Century French Realism' by Ross Finocchio was published in the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History in 2000, providing insights into the artistic movement of French Realism during the 19th century.

Ross Finocchio's work on 'Mannerism: Bronzino and his Contemporaries' was published in 2003, exploring the artistic style of Bronzino and his peers.

Ross Finocchio's article on 'Fra Angelico' was published in 2006, shedding light on the life and works of the artist.

Realism art is a style that aims to depict subjects as they appear in everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation. It emerged in the 19th century as a reaction against romanticism, focusing on portraying the harsh realities of society.