Realism

Realism is called "The Realist Movement" and it originated from France in the 1800s'. The artists from this movement wanted to break away from the artistic styles and what they used to paint in the past.

Realism focuses more about what's real and simple. Paintings in the movement were about nature, ordinary lives and problems. They were also about customs and the lower class, the unexceptional, the unadorned and the humble.

Gustave Courbet was one of the first of these realist and therefore led the others to follow in his example. This painting "The Burial at Ornans" that was painted in 1849  and other paintings he had done during that time,represented the common people in everyday scenes.

The Burial at Ornans.

There were other realists like Honore Daumier who was a social and political satirist. He painted "The Washerwoman" in 1863.

source: The Realism Art Movement. 2013. The Realism Art Movement. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.artsmypassion.com/articles.asp?ID=306. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

Realism (late 1800s-early 1900s) | Scholastic ART | Scholastic.com. 2013.Realism (late 1800s-early 1900s) | Scholastic ART | Scholastic.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753924. [Accessed 20 May 2013].