Realism Artists Index
Alphabetical Index of the Great Masters of the Realism
Realism is an artistic and literary movement that originated in Europe in the mid-19th century as a reaction against the idealization of beauty and romanticism that had characterized the arts since the Renaissance. Realist artists sought to depict the world as it really was, with all its imperfections and contradictions. They rejected the grandiose and idealized imagery of previous art movements, instead choosing to focus on ordinary people and everyday life.
Realism emerged at a time when the world was rapidly changing due to industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of capitalism. Artists and writers of the time sought to capture the new reality of the modern world, with its stark contrast between the rich and poor, the urban and rural, and the powerful and powerless.
One of the key figures of the Realist movement was the French painter Gustave Courbet, who famously declared that "painting is an essentially concrete art and can only consist of the representation of real and existing things." Courbet's paintings, such as "The Stonebreakers" and "A Burial at Ornans," depicted everyday people and scenes with a stark, unflinching realism.
Other important Realist artists included Jean-Francois Millet, who focused on rural life and the plight of the peasant class, and Honoré Daumier, who used his art to satirize the social and political issues of his day. Realism also had a significant influence on the development of photography, which offered a new level of realism and detail in capturing everyday life.
Overall, Realism represented a significant shift in the way artists and writers approached their work. By rejecting idealization and focusing on the real world, Realist artists sought to capture the truth of the human experience in all its complexity and nuance.
Realism emerged at a time when the world was rapidly changing due to industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of capitalism. Artists and writers of the time sought to capture the new reality of the modern world, with its stark contrast between the rich and poor, the urban and rural, and the powerful and powerless.
One of the key figures of the Realist movement was the French painter Gustave Courbet, who famously declared that "painting is an essentially concrete art and can only consist of the representation of real and existing things." Courbet's paintings, such as "The Stonebreakers" and "A Burial at Ornans," depicted everyday people and scenes with a stark, unflinching realism.
Other important Realist artists included Jean-Francois Millet, who focused on rural life and the plight of the peasant class, and Honoré Daumier, who used his art to satirize the social and political issues of his day. Realism also had a significant influence on the development of photography, which offered a new level of realism and detail in capturing everyday life.
Overall, Realism represented a significant shift in the way artists and writers approached their work. By rejecting idealization and focusing on the real world, Realist artists sought to capture the truth of the human experience in all its complexity and nuance.