Origins of Realism Painting:

Origins of Realism Painting  

Realism was an artistic movement often considered a pivotal art historical movement that originated in France in the mid-19th century as a reaction against the dominant Romanticism in both literature and Art at that time. Romanticism often focused on unidealised subjects and events that were previously rejected in artwork, emphasising emotion and imagination. In contrast, Realism sought to depict everyday life and ordinary people with truth and accuracy. Realist artworks depicted people from all social classes in everyday situations, reflecting the changes brought about by the Industrial and Commercial Revolutions. Realism has revolted against the exotic subject matter of Romanticism. It was primarily concerned with how things appeared to the eye rather than containing ideal representations of the world.  

The term "Realism" was first used in the context of Art in the Mercure français du XIXe siècle in 1826, describing a doctrine based on the truthful and accurate depiction of nature and contemporary life. French Realism artists rejected the artificiality of both Classicism and Romanticism, emphasising the necessity for contemporaneity in effective Art. Gustave Courbet is the original proponent and was a self-consciously proclaimed artist who practised the realist aesthetic. Courbet sought to portray real and typical contemporary people and situations with truth and accuracy, avoiding neither unpleasant nor sordid aspects of life. He was strongly against idealisation in his artwork and also urged other artists to make the commonplace and contemporary the focus or subject of their Art.  

Moreover, Realism spread beyond France and influenced other countries, which maintained a similar principle, with differences arising from the artistic backgrounds of the individual countries and artists. Likewise, in Russia, the Peredvizhniki (The Wanderers) group, including artists such as Ilya Repin and Vasily Perov, adopted Realist principles to depict Russian society, leaving a profound influence on Russian Art. And in Britain, too, artists such as Hubert von Herkomer and Luke Fildes created realist paintings that addressed social issues. 

The Realism art movement laid the groundwork for subsequent art movements, including Impressionism and Modernism, by challenging traditional artistic conventions and focusing on contemporary life. Its emphasis on depicting the world as it continues to influence artists today.