Realism began as an art movement in the 1700's. By the mid-1800's, it was a dominant art form. Its attempt is to portray life as it is or as you see it.
Painters believed that artwork should be focused on everyday life, presenting it accurately. As such, one can say that artworks of this style follow a straight line or do not deviate from their object. Artists who specialize in painting scenes of daily life are called Realists.
They try not to distort life by forcing it to agree with their ideas or with the formulas of art. So you may say that this art style is directly in contrast with abstract art.
Realistic painting gained dominance in the European painting scene in the 1800's. A twist occurred in the late 1800's when French Impressionists developed a modified form of realistic painting.
Their paintings were narrowed to the brightly lighted but restricted reality that can be seen at a fleeting glance.
Below is information on famous Realists and their paintings.
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) was a French painter that helped establish the realist movement in art. Courbet believed that art should show the reality of the times without idealizing or dramatizing. His two most important paintings are A Burial at Ornans and The Stone Breakers.
Honore Daumier - (1808-1879) was a French artist who gained recognition for painting and sculpture. Many of his paintings portray the working-class people of Paris. These works include The Third Class Carriage and The Washerwoman.
George Bellows - (1882-1925) was a leading American artist known for paintings of boxing matches, the New York City area, and seascapes, and for portraits of his wife and daughters. Two of the most powerful paintings ever done of fighters in action are Both Members of This Club and Stag at Sharkey’s.
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