pg. 1
,REALISM-------------------------------pg 3-8
IMPRESSIONISM---------------------------pg 9-15
POST IMPRESSIONISM----------------------pg 16-21
CUBISM----------------------------------pg 22-24
FAUVISM AND EXPRESSIONISM---------------------pg 23-30
pg. 2
, REALISM
• 19th Century
• did not only paint in a REALISTIC manner
• painted subjects of everyday (REAL) contemporary life.
Difference between the Romanticists and the Realists: subject matter
The Realists did not paint any mythological, religious, historical or imaginary subjects.
o Realists believed that only the things of their own time are real and that the artist must rely
on his own direct experience.
The famous Realist painter, Courbet, noted, “I cannot paint an angel because I have seen one.”
HOW SCIENCE INFLUENCED THEM:
Realists’ position in art and literature was strengthened by the achievements of science and
technology during the 19th Century:
o According to scientists, only facts that could be scientifically proven were real and that the
“scientific method” was the only way to gain knowledge.
• Religion, intuition and the imagination, etc, produced only fictions and illusions.
Thus, Modern `science with its practicality, and search for truth through factual knowledge gave the
example to the Realists who were searching for a style free from fable and fantasy.
pg. 3
, REALISM IN FRENCH PAINTINGS
A new REALISM in French painting arose in the mid 19th Century.
It reacted against:
o The “correct style” of the Salon, who insisted on a highly polished style and subject
matter, “worthy of being painted”.
o The subjective vision of nature and the tragedy, exotica and fantasy of the
Romanticists.
French Realism is generally regarded as the antithesis (opposite) of Idealism.
The NEW Realism expressed new interests:
these artists believed that one should paint ONLY what one could see and experience with
one’s own senses, and what one can see (people, places and things) in their own
surroundings.
The subject matter:
o inclined to stress the realities of life (including the squalor and depression of the
times). while the artists make no attempt to idealize any person or object.
pg. 4
, ARTISTS
Gustave Courbet
Beginning of the Industrial Revolution- France
factories were using new machines This drew great numbers of people
to increase production. from rural areas to the cities.
Factory workers were mostly unskilled
and poorly paid. Poor living conditions
“Industrial Revolution” pushed
These changes influenced artists
aside old beliefs, habits and
who were sensitive to what was
institutions.
happening around them.
.
They realized that Classical models
and Romantic subject matter were
out of place in this new world.
Artists looked instead to what they
could see and understand.
They aimed to paint familiar
scenes and trivial events as they
really looked
Factory workers, peasants and
everyday events became their subject
matter.
pg. 5
, Courbet
“The Stone Breakers”
“The Stone Breakers”
o 2 workers and the hardship
experienced by laborer’s.
o Old man, too old for work.
o A young boy, too young to work.
Courbet saw these two workers and invited them to pose for the painting in his studio.
DESCRIPTION:
• The fact that he painted real workers (and not models) emphasizes his idea
in portraying truth through Realism.
• The men’s clothes are tatty and torn, while their body language conveys the
difficulty of their work.
• We do not see their faces, and as a result we do not feel sympathy for the
individual men, but rather get information about the social conditions of
the time.
• The muted colouring of Courbet’s work reinforces the ideas behind Realism.
• The limited dark palette conveys the drabness and harshness of the scene.
pg. 6
,REALISM-------------------------------pg 3-8
IMPRESSIONISM---------------------------pg 9-15
POST IMPRESSIONISM----------------------pg 16-21
CUBISM----------------------------------pg 22-24
FAUVISM AND EXPRESSIONISM---------------------pg 23-30
pg. 2
, REALISM
• 19th Century
• did not only paint in a REALISTIC manner
• painted subjects of everyday (REAL) contemporary life.
Difference between the Romanticists and the Realists: subject matter
The Realists did not paint any mythological, religious, historical or imaginary subjects.
o Realists believed that only the things of their own time are real and that the artist must rely
on his own direct experience.
The famous Realist painter, Courbet, noted, “I cannot paint an angel because I have seen one.”
HOW SCIENCE INFLUENCED THEM:
Realists’ position in art and literature was strengthened by the achievements of science and
technology during the 19th Century:
o According to scientists, only facts that could be scientifically proven were real and that the
“scientific method” was the only way to gain knowledge.
• Religion, intuition and the imagination, etc, produced only fictions and illusions.
Thus, Modern `science with its practicality, and search for truth through factual knowledge gave the
example to the Realists who were searching for a style free from fable and fantasy.
pg. 3
, REALISM IN FRENCH PAINTINGS
A new REALISM in French painting arose in the mid 19th Century.
It reacted against:
o The “correct style” of the Salon, who insisted on a highly polished style and subject
matter, “worthy of being painted”.
o The subjective vision of nature and the tragedy, exotica and fantasy of the
Romanticists.
French Realism is generally regarded as the antithesis (opposite) of Idealism.
The NEW Realism expressed new interests:
these artists believed that one should paint ONLY what one could see and experience with
one’s own senses, and what one can see (people, places and things) in their own
surroundings.
The subject matter:
o inclined to stress the realities of life (including the squalor and depression of the
times). while the artists make no attempt to idealize any person or object.
pg. 4
, ARTISTS
Gustave Courbet
Beginning of the Industrial Revolution- France
factories were using new machines This drew great numbers of people
to increase production. from rural areas to the cities.
Factory workers were mostly unskilled
and poorly paid. Poor living conditions
“Industrial Revolution” pushed
These changes influenced artists
aside old beliefs, habits and
who were sensitive to what was
institutions.
happening around them.
.
They realized that Classical models
and Romantic subject matter were
out of place in this new world.
Artists looked instead to what they
could see and understand.
They aimed to paint familiar
scenes and trivial events as they
really looked
Factory workers, peasants and
everyday events became their subject
matter.
pg. 5
, Courbet
“The Stone Breakers”
“The Stone Breakers”
o 2 workers and the hardship
experienced by laborer’s.
o Old man, too old for work.
o A young boy, too young to work.
Courbet saw these two workers and invited them to pose for the painting in his studio.
DESCRIPTION:
• The fact that he painted real workers (and not models) emphasizes his idea
in portraying truth through Realism.
• The men’s clothes are tatty and torn, while their body language conveys the
difficulty of their work.
• We do not see their faces, and as a result we do not feel sympathy for the
individual men, but rather get information about the social conditions of
the time.
• The muted colouring of Courbet’s work reinforces the ideas behind Realism.
• The limited dark palette conveys the drabness and harshness of the scene.
pg. 6
