Isabella Flores
The term realism in art is often used interchangeably with naturalism, though they are not synonymous. Naturalism seeks to depict objects with minimal distortion, while realism focuses on representing reality without embellishment or interpretation. In portrait painting, realism can be traced back to ancient Hellenistic Greek sculptures and Roman Egyptian portraits, with the tradition continuing through the Tang dynasty, the Renaissance, and into the 20th century with the rise of leftist politics. Russian artists such as Isaak Brodsky and American artists like Andrew Wyeth made significant contributions to realist portraiture. Today, the term realism in art generally refers to a painting that looks much like the real thing, often capturing the essence of a subject without stylization or abstraction.
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What You'll Learn
Realism in portrait painting
Realism in art, including portrait painting, is broadly defined as "the faithful representation of reality". It is based on "objective reality" and focuses on depicting everyday activities and life, especially of the middle or lower classes, without romantic idealization or dramatization. In the context of visual art, "realistic" is used to describe the visual appearance of a work, while "realist" refers to the subject matter.
The term "realism" is often used interchangeably with "naturalism", though they are not synonymous. Naturalism seeks to depict objects and scenes with as little distortion as possible and is linked to the development of linear perspective and illusionism in Renaissance Europe. Illusionism, or "trompe l’oeil", is a French term meaning "fool the eye", and refers to the accurate rendering of visual appearances in a composition.
In the history of art, there have been several notable realist portrait painters. During the Tang dynasty, there was an increase in humanization and personalization in portrait painting due to the influence of Buddhism. Portraits of monks, in particular, adopted a more realistic likeness, as the true likeness was highly valued. In the 19th century, French painter Gustave Courbet was a prominent artist in the Realist movement, focusing on mundane, ugly, or sordid subjects, and rejecting the Romanticism that had previously dominated French art. John Singer Sargent was another successful portrait painter who used a mostly realistic technique, though he is known for his brilliant use of color. In the 20th century, American painter Andrew Wyeth became the leading American realist portrait painter, known for his "Helga" series of portraits of his neighbor, Helga Testorf.
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The realist art movement
Realism in art is defined as the accurate, detailed, and unembellished depiction of nature or contemporary life. It is concerned with how things appear to the eye, rather than ideal representations. This movement was influenced by various societal factors in the mid-1800s, including the suffrage movement, urban immigration, social class tensions, and economic difficulties caused by the Industrial and Commercial Revolutions. The development of photography also played a role, as it enabled the mechanical reproduction of visual appearances with extreme accuracy, stimulating artists to accurately capture contemporary life.
The Realist movement spread beyond France, gaining traction in other Western countries like Germany, Italy, and the United States. In Germany, Realism was influenced by the anti-Romantic movement, focusing on the common man as a subject. Artists like Adolph Menzel, Wilhelm Leibl, and Max Liebermann adopted the French Realist style after being exposed to the works of Courbet. In Italy, a similar debate between "classical-idealism" and "naturalist" styles took place, with followers of Caravaggio embracing the naturalist label.
In the United States, artists like Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins created powerful and expressive paintings that served as frank and unsentimental records of contemporary life. American Realism, a movement of the early 20th century, is an example of the continued influence of Realism in modern art. Additionally, the German art movement, Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity), utilized realist styles to express the cynicism and disillusionment of post-World War I Germany.
Realism in art is often associated with the desire to present honest and unidealized views of everyday life or to use art as a vehicle for social and political criticism. The French Realist movement coincided with the naturalist literature movement, finding shared ground with writers like Émile Zola, Honoré de Balzac, and Gustave Flaubert. Realist artists and authors rebelled against tradition, embracing the changes brought by the Industrial and Commercial Revolutions and the rise of leftist politics.
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Naturalism and illusionism
Illusionism in art refers to the artistic tradition of creating works that appear to share the physical space with the viewer or, more broadly, the attempt to represent physical appearances with precision. Illusionism aims to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality, often through the use of perspective, light, and shadow. Ancient Greek art is recognised for its progress in illusionistic effects, and the story of Zeuxis and Parrhasius's competition in ancient Greece is a famous example of the aspiration of Greek painting to deceive the viewer.
The development of naturalism and illusionism continued in the Early Netherlandish painting of the 15th century with artists such as Robert Campin and Jan van Eyck. Jan van Eyck's "The Annunciation Diptych" (1433-35) is a notable example, where the rendered figures appear lifelike and resemble expertly carved stone sculptures.
In the 19th century, the Realism art movement, including artists like Gustave Courbet, focused on depicting everyday life and social issues without romantic idealisation. While Courbet's work was not known for precise and careful depictions of visual appearances, it emphasised a naturalistic style and a truthful representation of reality.
The invention of photography in the 19th century also influenced the development of naturalism and illusionism. Trompe l’oeil, a French term meaning “deceive the eye,” became less prominent as photography superseded the illusionistic skills of painters. Realism took on a new political meaning, especially in France, where artists used a naturalistic style to depict the lives of labourers and peasants.
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The history of realism
Realism in art, often used interchangeably with naturalism, is the accurate, detailed, and unembellished depiction of nature or contemporary life. It is regarded as the first modern movement in art, which originated in France in the 1840s or mid-19th century as a reaction to Romanticism and history painting. The French Realist movement was characterized by a spirit of rebellion against the powerful official support for history painting, which was often state-sponsored. Instead, Realism aimed to portray the world as it truly was, focusing on the lives, appearances, problems, customs, and mores of ordinary people, especially the middle and lower classes.
The term "realism" first appeared in the Mercure français du XIXe siècle in 1826, describing a doctrine based on the truthful and accurate depiction of nature and contemporary life, rejecting the artificiality of Classicism and Romanticism. The Realist movement in France was led by Gustave Courbet, whose works included "A Burial at Ornans" (1849-50) and "The Stone Breakers" (1849-50), which depicted ordinary people and rural life on a large scale, challenging the traditional history paintings of the time. Other proponents of French Realism include Jean-François Millet, Honoré Daumier, and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot.
The influence of the French Realist movement spread to other Western countries, including Germany, where prominent Realists included Adolph Menzel, Wilhelm Leibl, Wilhelm Trübner, and Max Liebermann. Realism in Russia arose in the 1850s and 1860s, with artists like Ilya Repin and Vassili Vereschagin, who painted peasants and rural life. In Italy, the Macchiaioli artist group was influenced by Realism. American Realism emerged in the late 19th century, with artists such as Thomas Eakins and Robert Henri, who depicted urban scenes and laborers.
Realism in portrait painting has also been a significant aspect of art history. During the Tang dynasty, portrait painting became more humanized and personalized, influenced by the influx of Buddhism, which valued the true likeness of the subject. In the 20th century, Russian artists such as Isaak Brodsky and Nikolai Fechin contributed to the development of realist portraiture, while American artists like Andrew Wyeth and Robert Henri became known for their realist portraits.
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Realist art in different civilisations
A realistic painting of a person is often referred to as a form of "realism" in art. While the term "realistic" is usually related to visual appearance, "realist" art often concerns itself with subject matter. Realism in art is defined as "the faithful representation of reality", focusing on depicting everyday activities and life.
Realist art has manifested in various ways across different civilisations. Here are some examples:
Europe
During the Renaissance, Early Renaissance artists in Italy turned to fresco, decorating private chapels or the homes of wealthy patrons with lifelike scenes. This period saw the emergence of artists like Giotto, who played a trick on his master, the medieval icon painter Cimabue, by painting an ultra-realistic image. Another artist, Nicola di Maestro Antonio, used perspective and shadows to create a 3-D effect in his paintings, enhancing their realism.
In the 17th century, a debate arose in Italy between the "classical-idealism" of the Carracci and the "naturalist" style of Caravaggio and his followers, who painted religious scenes as though they were set in contemporary Italian cities.
In the 19th century, the Realist movement in France emerged as a reaction to Romanticism and History painting. Artists like Gustave Courbet, Honoré Daumier, and Jean-François Millet rejected idealisation and focused on depicting everyday life, especially that of the common people. Courbet's Burial at Ornans (1849-50) and the Stone Breakers (1849) shocked critics with their frank and unadorned portrayal of peasants and labourers.
China
During the Eastern Han dynasty (25 BCE–220 CE), it was customary to furnish tombs with ceramic figures called ming-ch’i, which depicted everyday people, places, and objects from the living world. This practice continued during the T’ang dynasty (7th–8th century CE), with the number and quality of ming-ch’i corresponding to a person's social rank and wealth.
Nigeria
The Ife culture of Nigeria has a rich tradition of realist sculpture dating back to 1050 CE. Portrait heads from this culture show careful attention to facial details, including scarification patterns.
Ancient Greece and Rome
Artists in ancient Greece, such as Zeuxis and Parrhasius, were known for their ultra-realistic paintings. Pliny the Elder, a Roman author, recounts a story of a competition between these two artists, where Zeuxis' still-life composition of grapes appeared so realistic that birds tried to peck at them. However, Parrhasius ultimately "fooled the man" by painting an illusionistic curtain.
Frescoes excavated at Pompeii and Herculaneum provide some of the only surviving examples of ancient Greco-Roman painting and showcase an early interest in perspective and anatomy, as well as the exploration of illusory possibilities.
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Frequently asked questions
A realistic painting of a person is called a portrait. Portrait painting has a rich history, with notable examples from the Romans, the Tang dynasty, and the Renaissance.
Realism, Naturalism, and Impressionism are some of the artistic movements that are associated with realistic paintings of people. While Realism focuses on the faithful representation of reality, Naturalism seeks to depict objects with minimal distortion, and Impressionism captures light and gesture rather than detailed realism.
Notable artists known for their realistic paintings of people include Gustave Courbet, John Singer Sargent, Amedeo Modigliani, and Andrew Wyeth. These artists often portrayed their subjects with a high degree of realism, capturing their likeness and expressing their inner emotions through their artwork.
