Social Conditions And Characteristics Of Realism

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Social Conditions and Characteristics of the Realism Art Period
Realism developed during the French Revolution, a time of upheaval in social and cultural practices. Clothing, food, heat, light and sanitation were just a few of the basic areas that were being “modernized”. For the upper class, modern life was about social mixing, social mobility, frequent journeys from the city to the country and back, and a generally faster pace which has accelerated ever since (Gersh-Nesic, n.d., para. 4). How could paintings and sculptures about Classical gods and biblical stories of the previous Romantic period relate to a population so enchanted with this progress? In contrast, there were those that wanted to portray the reality of everyday life in hopes it would spur social and economic reform. The revolutions led to the growth of large factories whose owners grew wealthy while the working and lower class toiled long hours for low pay. “Realism was thus a handmaiden for the socialist political activists of the time attempting to shake up the bourgeoisie (middle classes) in order to spearhead social changes leading to an idealistic “golden age of humanity”(Lane, 1998, para. 2)
Akin to the photograph, which was developed a few years before the age of Realism, the realist artist depicted its subjects devoid of any unnecessary dramatics or artistic affection by attempting absolute accuracy. Refraining from undue embellishment and aiming for a natural tone, the works during the age of Realism where much like the camera; catching every detail and portraying a very realistic experience. Brushstrokes were very subtle, almost invisible to the naked eye. The focus was on the subject rather than the medium used.

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...and even insult. Ironically, the term Impressionism was meant to disparage the new technique, but the term stuck and consequently gave rise to some of the most well-known artists to this day whose works are some of the most replicated. Lionello Venturi worded it perfectly when he said, “Impressionism, in effect, has changed the vision of the world. In spite of all the natural and artificial obstacles, it has triumphed by its intrinsic value because it represents the moral vision of its epoch. The last of the privileged classes, the “notables,” were about to disappear. From a new stratum in society the Impressionists brought their force and sincerity and integrity, their tremendous faith in their ideal, their elan of liberty (Blunden & Blunden, 1980, p. 55). Impressionism caught on and paved the way for innovative thinkers and ingenious individuals worldwide.

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