Realism
Realism
• Early 19th-century industrial advances boosted belief in science and progress.
• Growing acceptance of empiricism: knowledge based on observation and direct
experience.
• Positivism, led by Auguste Comte: emphasis on scientific laws governing nature
and human activity.
• Positivists advocated for rigorous data analysis to uncover these laws.
• Science seen as the highest human achievement, promoting an empirical approach
to understanding nature and society.
France realism
• Realism arose in mid-19th century France alongside increasing emphasis on
science.
• Realist artists, influenced by empiricism and positivism, deemed only the
contemporary world as "real."
• They focused on depicting contemporary people and events, rejecting historical and
fictional subjects as unobservable and inaccurately recordable.
Artist on Art
Gustave Courbet on realism
• Realism, a 19th-century French movement, emerged amidst a rising focus on
science.
• Realist artists, influenced by empiricism and positivism, insisted only the
contemporary world was "real."
• They depicted contemporary subjects, dismissing historical or fictional themes as
unobservable and inaccurately recordable.
Stone breakers
• "A Burial at Ornans" by Gustave Courbet, finished in 1850, is a pivotal Realist
painting.
• It portrays a funeral procession in Ornans, France, with a large scale and realistic
depiction of ordinary life.
• Courbet's departure from idealized subjects led to controversy at the Salon of 1850-
1851.
• Despite criticism, the painting is now celebrated as a landmark in realism, reflecting
Courbet's commitment to truthfully portraying ordinary people and their lives.
Burial at ornans.
• "The Stone Breakers" is an early work by Gustave Courbet, showcasing his focus on
everyday life.
• It depicts rural laborers engaged in the unglamorous task of breaking stones for
road paving.
• Courbet presents the scene straightforwardly, depicting two men—one elderly, the
other young—at nearly life size.
• The painting highlights the harsh realities of menial labor, with the workers shown in
tattered clothing and with simple utensils for their meal.
Jean-Francois Millet (1814-1878)
• French painter born in 1814 in Gruchy, Normandy, known for peasant farmer
paintings.
• Categorized as part of the Realism art movement. Renowned for oil paintings, also
produced pastels, Conté crayon drawings, and etchings.
• Founding member of the Barbizon school, emphasizing real-life images and working
from nature.
Honore Daumier (1808- 1879)
• Born in 1808, Daumier was a celebrated French painter and printmaker.
• He staunchly defended the urban working class and challenged authority through
his art.
• Daumier's lithographs sharply criticized politicians, lawyers, doctors, and the
wealthy bourgeoisie.
• He faced imprisonment for his bold statements, exemplified in his lithograph
"Gargantua," mocking corruption and lavish spending in the government of King
Louis-Philippe I.
Lithography
• Lithography, a printing method, utilizes the repulsion between grease and water.
• Ink is applied to grease-treated areas on a flat surface, while non-image sections
repel ink due to moisture.
• Daumier employed lithography to create large, painterly images with widespread
distribution.
• This technique enabled Daumier to reach a broad audience with his impactful
artworks.
Rue Transnonain
• Daumier's lithograph "Rue Transnonain", April 15, 1834, depicts the aftermath of a
tragic event in Paris.
• A civil guard's death by a sniper during a worker demonstration led to brutal
retaliation.
• Civil guards stormed a workers' housing block, massacring all inhabitants.
• Unlike Goya's dramatic style, Daumier's lithograph captures the aftermath, showing
lifeless bodies amidst chaos, including a child crushed beneath his father's corpse.
Third-Class Carriage
• Daumier's painting "Third-Class Carriage" reflects his emphasis on portraying the
hardships of the poor post-1848 revolution.
• It depicts the cramped and grimy conditions of third-class railway cars in the 1860s,
reserved for impoverished passengers.
• Unlike first and second-class compartments, third-class travelers crowded onto
hard benches, symbolizing the struggles of the disenfranchised masses amid 19th-
century industrialization.
Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899)
• Rosa Bonheur, a prominent French artist of the 19th century, was celebrated for her
realistic depictions of animals, particularly horses.
• Born in 1822, she achieved significant recognition, winning the gold medal at the
Salon of 1848.
• Bonheur broke barriers by becoming the director of France's state-sponsored
drawing school for women and was the first woman to receive the Grand Cross of
the French Legion of Honor.
• Her commitment to studying animals in their natural settings, including horse
markets and stockyards, enhanced the authenticity of her artwork.
The Horse Fair
• "The Horse Fair," painted between 1852 and 1855, is Rosa Bonheur's most notable
work.
• This large oil painting vividly portrays the energy and power of a horse market in
Paris, showcasing her mastery of animal anatomy and motion.
• Combining realism with emotional depth, the painting garnered widespread
acclaim at the 1853 Paris Salon, propelling Bonheur to international fame.
Jean- Baptiste Carpeaux
• Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, born in Valenciennes, France, in 1827, was a prominent
figure in French Realism during the 19th century.
• Despite facing financial struggles early in his career, Carpeaux's talent was
recognized, and he received a scholarship to study at the prestigious École des
Beaux-Arts in Paris.
• His work often depicted realistic and emotional expressions, capturing the essence
of his subjects with great detail and sensitivity.
• Carpeaux, like many artists of his time, was certainly influenced by Michelangelo's
work, particularly his sculptures.
• Carpeaux, like many artists of his time, was certainly influenced by Michelangelo's
work, particularly his sculptures.
The Dance “La Danse”
• It was commissioned as part of the decorative program for the façade of the Opéra
Garnier in Paris.
• Unlike traditional depictions of dance, which often portrayed idealized and static
figures, Carpeaux's composition is characterized by its realism and dynamism.
• The figures seem to come alive, evoking the spontaneity and exuberance of a real
dance.
• ultimately received acclaim for its artistic merit and technical skill. It has since
become one of Carpeaux's most celebrated works, admired for its expressive
power and ability to capture the vitality of human experience.
Ugolino and His Sons
• The sculpture portrays Ugolino and his sons locked in a desperate embrace as they
face starvation in a prison cell.
• It depicts the tragic story of Ugolino della Gherardesca, a 13th-century Italian
nobleman, and his sons, as recounted in Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy."
• It depicts the tragic story of Ugolino della Gherardesca, a 13th-century Italian
nobleman, and his sons, as recounted in Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy."
Édouard Manet
• Born in Paris in 1832, Manet rejected academic conventions and became a leading
figure in Realism.
• He defied traditional techniques, blending Impressionism and avant-garde styles
into his work.
• Despite his affluent upbringing, Manet embraced the bohemian lifestyle and
portrayed contemporary Parisian society in his art. His legacy as a French Realism
pioneer persists, with his paintings lauded for innovative compositions and incisive
social commentary.
Olympia
• "Olympia," painted in 1863, depicts a reclining nude woman staring directly at the
viewer, challenging societal norms.
• Like many of Manet's works, it caused scandal at its 1865 Salon exhibition due to its
provocative subject matter.
• Criticized for its departure from academic conventions, the painting's
confrontational gaze and nudity sparked debate among critics and the public.
Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe
• "Luncheon on the Grass," painted in 1863 by Manet, portrays nude female figures as
active participants, challenging traditional gender roles.
• The confident and assertive presence of the women suggests a rejection of the
passive and submissive roles typically assigned to women in art and society.
WIliam-Adolphe Bouguereau
• Bouguereau, a significant figure in 19th-century French art, is often overlooked in
contemporary art histories.
• His paintings frequently depicted classical and mythological subjects, emphasizing
idealized figures rather than everyday life or social issues.
• Despite living during the Realist era, Bouguereau's style leaned towards
Academicism and Neoclassicism. Despite not aligning with French Realism, his
influence on 19th-century French art was substantial, and his works are admired for
their technical skill and aesthetic beauty.
GERMANY & UNITED STATES REALISM
Wilhelm Leibl.
• "Three Women in Church" is an 1881 oil painting by German realist painter Wilhelm
Leibl, housed in the Kunsthalle Hamburg.
• The painting portrays three generations of German peasants seated together in a
church pew in Berbling near Bad Aibling, Bavaria.
• Considered Leibl's greatest masterpiece, it took nearly three and a half years to
complete and was exhibited in 1882. It currently hangs in the Kunsthalle Hamburg.
Winslow Homer
• "Veteran in a New Field" is a significant work by American realist painter Winslow
Homer, renowned for his portrayals of everyday life.
• Created in 1865, the painting captures the aftermath of the American Civil War,
emphasizing individual resilience.
• Depicting a solitary figure, likely a Civil War veteran, reaping wheat in a field, the
painting symbolizes perseverance and hard work in post-war rebuilding.
• The contrast between the golden wheat field and the darkening sky suggests both
renewal and the challenges ahead.
Thomas Eakins
• "The Gross Clinic" by Thomas Eakins, painted in 1875, exemplifies realism in
American art.
• The painting depicts a surgical demonstration led by Dr. Samuel D. Gross in a
medical amphitheater.
• Eakins' meticulous attention to detail captures the intensity and expertise of Dr.
Gross and his team.
• The use of light and shadow enhances the dramatic intensity of the scene,
emphasizing the gravity of the surgical procedure.
John Singer Sargent
• "The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit" is a celebrated painting by American artist
John Singer Sargent, finished in 1882.
• Depicting the four daughters of Edward Darley Boit, an American living in Paris, the
painting is renowned for its psychological depth and ambiguity.
• Viewers are invited to interpret the relationships and emotions suggested by the
girls' poses and expressions.
• Regarded as one of Sargent's finest works, it is considered a masterpiece of
American portraiture.
Henry Ossawa Tanner
• Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937) was a pioneering African American artist
recognized for his emotive and spiritually resonant paintings. Born in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, Tanner encountered substantial racial obstacles in his artistic
pursuits.
• Despite these challenges, he attained global acclaim for his artwork, transcending
racial barriers and leaving a lasting impact on the art world.
The Thankful Poor
• Notable Work: "The Thankful Poor"
• Year: 1894
• Medium: Oil on canvas
• Description: Depicts an elderly African American man and woman praying over a
modest meal in a humble interior.
• Warm, golden light filters through a nearby window, highlighting the couple's quiet
dignity and profound gratitude despite their poverty.
A Second Opinion
• Edmonia Lewis (1844–1907) was a pioneering African American and Native
American sculptor.
• She achieved recognition for her neoclassical sculptures, which delved into themes
of emancipation, freedom, and identity.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
• Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882) was a visionary artist and poet linked with the
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
• He was renowned for his lush, sensuous imagery and fascination with medieval
themes.
Forever Free
• Notable Work: "Forever Free"
• Year: 1867
• Medium: Marble sculpture
• Description: Depicts a man and woman triumphantly emerging from the bonds of
slavery.
• The figures, carved with exquisite detail, exude strength, determination, and hope
for a brighter future.
• Lewis' sculpture serves as a powerful symbol of liberation and resilience in the face
of oppression.
Pre- Raphaelite Brotherhood
• The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was an English group of painters and poets
established in 1848.
• They advocated for a return to detailed and sincere artistic styles preceding the
Renaissance master Raphael.
• The movement aimed to reject the academic standards of the time and embrace a
more sincere and emotionally charged approach to art.
John Everet Millais
• John Everett Millais (1829–1896) was a prominent figure in the Pre-Raphaelite
movement.
• He was celebrated for his meticulous attention to detail and vivid storytelling in his
paintings.
Ophelia
• Notable Work: "Ophelia"
• Year: 1851-1852
• Medium: Oil on canvas
• Description: Depicts the tragic Shakespearean character floating in a serene river
amidst lush vegetation.
• Millais' meticulous rendering of nature and the figure's haunting expression capture
the essence of Ophelia's despair and impending doom.
Beata Beatrix
• Notable Work: "Beata Beatrix"
• Year: 1864-1870
• Medium: Oil on canvas
• Description: Portrays Dante Alighieri's muse, Beatrice Portinari, in a state of trance-
like ecstasy.
• Rossetti's rich symbolism, vibrant colors, and dreamlike atmosphere convey a
sense of mystical transcendence, reflecting his preoccupation with love, death, and
spirituality.
