🎭Art History II – Renaissance to Modern Era Unit 5 – Realism & Impressionism in Art
Realism and Impressionism revolutionized 19th-century art. Realism emerged as a reaction against Romanticism, focusing on everyday life and social issues. Artists like Courbet and Millet depicted the working class with unidealized accuracy, using muted colors and naturalistic styles.
Impressionism evolved from Realism, emphasizing light, color, and atmosphere. Painters like Monet and Renoir used loose brushstrokes and vibrant hues to capture fleeting moments. Both movements rejected traditional subjects, paving the way for modern art's development.
Realism emerged in the mid-19th century as a reaction against Romanticism and Neoclassicism
Influenced by the political and social upheavals of the time, including the Industrial Revolution and the Revolutions of 1848
Sought to depict the world as it was, without idealization or embellishment
Coincided with the rise of the middle class and the increasing importance of the working class
Reflected the growing interest in science and the natural world, as well as the development of photography
Influenced by the writings of French philosopher Auguste Comte and his concept of positivism, which emphasized the importance of observable facts and empirical evidence
Realism was not a unified movement, but rather a diverse group of artists who shared a commitment to representing the world as they saw it
Key Characteristics of Realism
Emphasis on depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people, particularly the working class and the poor
Rejection of idealization and sentimentality in favor of a more objective, unvarnished portrayal of reality
Use of a naturalistic style, with attention to detail and accuracy in the representation of people, objects, and settings
Focus on contemporary subjects and themes, rather than historical or mythological ones
Incorporation of social and political commentary, often highlighting the struggles and injustices faced by the lower classes
Use of a muted, earthy color palette and a lack of dramatic lighting or compositional effects
Emphasis on the individual and the particular, rather than the universal or the ideal
Major Realist Artists and Works
Gustave Courbet (The Stone Breakers, A Burial at Ornans)
Considered the leader of the Realist movement in France
Known for his large-scale, unidealized depictions of rural life and working-class people
Jean-François Millet (The Gleaners, The Angelus)
Focused on the lives of peasants and agricultural workers
Used a simplified, monumental style to imbue his subjects with a sense of dignity and nobility
Honoré Daumier (The Third-Class Carriage, Rue Transnonain)
Known for his satirical lithographs and paintings critiquing contemporary society and politics
Depicted the urban poor and the working class with a sense of empathy and humanity
Thomas Eakins (The Gross Clinic, Max Schmitt in a Single Scull)
American Realist painter known for his uncompromising, scientifically accurate depictions of the human body
Focused on contemporary American subjects, including sports, medicine, and the arts
Transition to Impressionism
Impressionism developed in the late 1860s and early 1870s, building on the foundations laid by Realism
Shared Realism's interest in contemporary subjects and themes, but focused more on the changing effects of light, color, and atmosphere
Influenced by advances in color theory and the science of optics, as well as the increasing availability of portable painting supplies
Rejected the traditional hierarchy of genres and the emphasis on historical and mythological subjects in favor of landscapes, still lifes, and scenes of modern life
Emphasized the importance of capturing the fleeting, momentary aspects of visual experience, rather than creating a carefully composed, idealized image
Marked a shift away from the detailed, highly finished style of Realism towards a looser, more spontaneous approach to painting
Techniques and Innovations in Impressionism
Use of short, broken brushstrokes to capture the changing effects of light and color
Emphasis on pure, unmixed colors, often applied directly from the tube or palette
Use of complementary colors to create a sense of vibrancy and luminosity
Incorporation of visible brushstrokes and a rougher, more textured surface, emphasizing the materiality of the paint itself
Painting en plein air, or outdoors, to directly observe and capture the effects of natural light and atmosphere
Use of unconventional compositions, often with asymmetrical or cropped elements, to create a sense of immediacy and spontaneity
Rejection of the traditional use of chiaroscuro and modeling in favor of a flatter, more two-dimensional approach to form and space
Notable Impressionist Painters and Paintings
Claude Monet (Impression, Sunrise, Haystacks series, Water Lilies series)
Considered the leader of the Impressionist movement
Known for his series paintings exploring the changing effects of light and color on a single subject over time
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Luncheon of the Boating Party, Dance at the Moulin de la Galette)
Known for his luminous, sensuous depictions of leisure and social gatherings
Used a soft, feathery brushstroke and a warm, vibrant color palette
Edgar Degas (The Dance Class, The Absinthe Drinker)
Focused on the world of ballet, horse racing, and Parisian nightlife
Known for his unconventional compositions and his use of unusual viewpoints and cropping
Camille Pissarro (Boulevard Montmartre series, The Harvest at Montfoucault)
Considered the "father of Impressionism" for his role in organizing and promoting the group's exhibitions
Known for his landscapes and rural scenes, often depicting the changing seasons and the effects of weather and atmosphere
Impact on Later Art Movements
Impressionism paved the way for the development of modern art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
Influenced the rise of Post-Impressionism, which built on the innovations of Impressionism while also reacting against its limitations
Artists like Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin sought to create a more structured, expressive art that went beyond the purely visual aspects of Impressionism
Contributed to the development of Neo-Impressionism, which used scientific color theory and pointillist techniques to create a more systematic, controlled approach to capturing light and color
Inspired the development of Fauvism, which emphasized the expressive potential of color and the autonomy of the painted surface
Laid the groundwork for the rise of abstraction in the early 20th century, as artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian sought to create a purely non-representational art based on the interplay of color, line, and form
Critical Reception and Legacy
Initially met with criticism and ridicule from the art establishment, which saw Impressionism as a rejection of traditional artistic values and techniques
Gradually gained acceptance and popularity among collectors, dealers, and the general public, particularly in the United States
Helped to establish the idea of the avant-garde and the notion of artistic progress and innovation
Contributed to the democratization of art and the erosion of the traditional hierarchy of genres and subjects
Influenced the development of modern art and continues to be celebrated for its technical innovations, its capturing of the ephemeral and transient aspects of visual experience, and its embodiment of the spirit of modernity
Remains one of the most popular and influential movements in the history of Western art, with works by Impressionist artists continuing to be highly sought after by museums and collectors around the world