Realism

Realism, a mid-19th century painting movement, emerged as a significant shift from idealized art, focusing on daily life and the experiences of ordinary people. Influenced by social upheavals and thinkers like Marx and Darwin, key artists such as Gustave Courbet, Jean-François Millet, and Honoré Daumier portrayed the stark realities of the working class and rural life. Realism’s principles, including accurate representation and social commentary, set the groundwork for later movements like Impressionism and Social Realism, influencing contemporary art today.