Realism

Realism th century art movement that embraced the concept of what was real to the artist 19 th century art movement that embraced the concept of what was real to the artist –1820 – 1920 –Hard to define because there were so many thoughts about its meaning at the time –Shared the same time frame with Romanticism

Jean-François Millet. The Gleaners Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

Realism 101 Realists dismissed the historical and revival motivations of earlier styles and time periods and focused only on everyday subject matter. Realists dismissed the historical and revival motivations of earlier styles and time periods and focused only on everyday subject matter. –This subject matter would have been considered unworthy in earlier periods

Thomas Eakins The Gross Clinic 1875 oil on canvas 8' × 6'6" in Thomas Jefferson University

Realism Influences Influences Influences –Progression during the mid-1800’s through the turn of the 20 th century  Industrialization  Urbanization  new inventions and theories in science  new political theories such as socialism and communism  Revolts and rebellions

Realism - Influences Challenging times influenced writers, scientists, artists, politicians, philosophers, and educators. Challenging times influenced writers, scientists, artists, politicians, philosophers, and educators. –Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, a new concept of life one earth that challenged Christian beliefs. –Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto which urged the working class to overthrow capitalism. Gave rise to socialism and beginning of trade unions.

Realism - Painting Medium that most reflected the ideas of the Realists. Medium that most reflected the ideas of the Realists. –Gustave Courbet –Francois Millet –Honore Daumier –John Singer Sargent –Edouard Manet –Thomas Eakins –Winslow Homer

Realism - Sculpture A realistic reflection of a moment in time A realistic reflection of a moment in time Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux captured realistic poses combined with a flair for the ornate that was influenced by the Baroque period. Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux captured realistic poses combined with a flair for the ornate that was influenced by the Baroque period. Auguste Rodin was another well-known sculptor who contributed to Realism. Auguste Rodin was another well-known sculptor who contributed to Realism.

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux La Danse (The Dance) Opera Garnier in Paris

Auguste Rodin The Thinker

Realism - Photography The development of photography reinforced the emphasis on capturing the moment and real life. The development of photography reinforced the emphasis on capturing the moment and real life. –Artists gained a technical process for capturing images on film and in print –Matthew Brady's dramatic photographs of the Civil War

Photo of Abraham Lincoln taken by Brady on February 27, 1860 in New York City, the day of Lincoln's Cooper Union speech.

Portrait of General Robert E. Lee, officer of the Confederate Army Richmond, Virginia. Group of Freed Slaves ("Freedmen") by canal

Fair Oaks, Virginia Artillery

Washington, D.C. President Lincoln's box at Ford's Theater

Realism - Architecture Supported the new inventions and industrialization of the times Supported the new inventions and industrialization of the times –Integration of new materials such as cast iron and steel into structures to provide support and reduce the hazards of fire –Structures were designed with the concept that form follows functions  skyscrapers

Gustave Courbet 1819 – – 1877 French painter who led the Realist movement in 19th- century French painting. French painter who led the Realist movement in 19th- century French painting.

Gustave Courbet a painter of figurative compositions, landscapes and seascapes. He also worked with social issues, and addressed peasantry and the grave working conditions of the poor. a painter of figurative compositions, landscapes and seascapes. He also worked with social issues, and addressed peasantry and the grave working conditions of the poor. Courbet believed that painters should portray the life around them. Courbet believed that painters should portray the life around them.

Gustave Courbet. Burial at Ornans Oil on canvas. 314 x 663 cm. Musee d'Orsay, Paris.

Courbet’s Burial at Ornans. a canvas recording of the funeral of his grand uncle. a canvas recording of the funeral of his grand uncle. –he "painted the very people who had been present at the burial, all the townspeople". The painting caused a fuss with critics and the public. It is an enormous work depicting a common ritual on a scale which previously would have been reserved for a religious or royal subject. The painting caused a fuss with critics and the public. It is an enormous work depicting a common ritual on a scale which previously would have been reserved for a religious or royal subject. Eventually the public grew more interested in the new Realist approach, and the lavish, decadent fantasy of Romanticism lost popularity. Eventually the public grew more interested in the new Realist approach, and the lavish, decadent fantasy of Romanticism lost popularity. –Courbet said: "The Burial at Ornans was in reality the burial of Romanticism."

Winslow Homer 1836 – – 1910 American landscape painter and printmaker, most famous for his marine subjects. American landscape painter and printmaker, most famous for his marine subjects. Considered one of the greatest figures in American art. Considered one of the greatest figures in American art.

Winslow Homer. Sunlight on the Coast Toledo Museum of Art.

Winslow Homer A Civil War artist in which he produced illustrations of camp life. A Civil War artist in which he produced illustrations of camp life.

Winslow Homer. Casting, Number Two Watercolor over graphite on paper.

Winslow Homer. Sketch for “Hound and Hunter,” Watercolor on paper.

Winslow Homer. Hound and Hunter Oil on canvas.

Winslow Homer. Right and Left Oil on canvas.

Édouard Manet 1832 – – 1883 French painter French painter pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism

Édouard Manet - Style Subjects Subjects –Contemporary scenes with hard edge Colors Colors –Dark patches against light –Used black as accent Style Style –Simplified forms with minimal modeling –Flat color patches outlined in black

Édouard Manet. The Railway. Oil on canvas National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Édouard Manet His images of modern urban life and sometimes scandalous subject matter broke new ground His images of modern urban life and sometimes scandalous subject matter broke new ground –Subjects deemed unsuitable for high art More concerned with the properties of the painting and not of the subject matter More concerned with the properties of the painting and not of the subject matter –Refused to follow previous rules by painting without shadows and depth

- Controversy Édouard Manet - Controversy Early masterworks The Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia created great controversy, and served as rallying points for young painters. Early masterworks The Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia created great controversy, and served as rallying points for young painters. Many of his works were rejected by the Salon, the Royal Academy exhibitions that were the established route for young artists to become recognized. Many of his works were rejected by the Salon, the Royal Academy exhibitions that were the established route for young artists to become recognized.

Édouard Manet. The Luncheon on the Grass. 1862–1863. Oil on canvas. 208 × cm, 81.9 × in. Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

- Olympia Édouard Manet - Olympia Manet’s Olympia caused much scandal when in 1865, it was accepted by the Salon. Critics even advised pregnant women to avoid the picture. Manet’s Olympia caused much scandal when in 1865, it was accepted by the Salon. Critics even advised pregnant women to avoid the picture. Harshly criticized Harshly criticized –Flat space and shallow volumes –Patches of color appeared unfinished

Édouard Manet. Olympia Oil on canvas × 190 cm, 51.4 × 74.8 in. Musée d'Orsay, Paris

- Controversy Édouard Manet - Controversy Manet shattered tradition by painting female nudes as contemporary human beings, not idealized goddesses, and by abandoning academic chiaroscuro for bold light-dark contrasts. By rejecting the Salon style, he brought painting into the modern world of real life. Manet shattered tradition by painting female nudes as contemporary human beings, not idealized goddesses, and by abandoning academic chiaroscuro for bold light-dark contrasts. By rejecting the Salon style, he brought painting into the modern world of real life.

Édouard Manet. A Bar at the Folies-Bergère Oil on canvas. 96 × 130 cm. Courtauld Institute of Art, London

Realism – Drama/Theatre To represent everyday life and people as they are or appear to be through careful attention to detail in character motivation, costume, setting, and dialogue. To represent everyday life and people as they are or appear to be through careful attention to detail in character motivation, costume, setting, and dialogue.

Realism – Drama/Theatre Realism Plays Realism Plays –seek the truth –find beauty in the commonplace –focus on conditions of the working class. Pivotal Figures Pivotal Figures –Henrik Ibsen –George Bernard Shaw –Anton Chekov

Henrik Ibsen 1828 – – 1906 Norwegian playwright Norwegian playwright “Father of Modern Realistic Drama” “Father of Modern Realistic Drama”

Ibsen’s A Doll’s House 1879 social drama examining the realities behind the Victorian values of family life and propriety social drama examining the realities behind the Victorian values of family life and propriety. A Scathing criticism of the traditional roles of men and women in Victorian marriage. A Scathing criticism of the traditional roles of men and women in Victorian marriage. Considered scandalous and outrageous. Considered scandalous and outrageous.