Nineteenth Century Realism - Essay Example

Critical Essay in Art: Nineteenth Century Realism al Affiliation) Nineteenth Century Realism Introduction The realist movement in European art, especially in France, flourished between around 1840 to the latter years of the nineteenth century (Darrow & Julius, 2005). The main message that most works of art sought to convey at that time was an objective and truthful vision concerning the contemporary life. Realism came to exist after the 1848 revolution that led to the overturning of the Louis-Phillippe monarchy. Realism developed further under Napoleon III, during the Second Empire period. This period was one of democratization, with various groups seeking democratic reform to the order that existed at the time. The monarchy was increasingly becoming unpopular across Europe. Art based on realism brought about the true image of people’s experiences during those periods (Boime, 2007). The realists democratized art through the depiction of modern subjects from the common people, mostly the working class. The basis of realism was the direct observation of people’s lives as opposed to idealized classicism of art and the themes forming the basis of Romanticism. This paper shall discuss three works of art created during the period of Realism, with emphasis on European art. 1. The Ornan Burial by Gustave Coubert Gustave Coubert was one of the strongest proponents of Realism. He secured his place as a pioneer through challenging the art that had for a long time been favored by the state-sponsored academy of art. By extension, Coubert challenged the core of history painting. Coubert painted this work and exhibited it at the Salons de Paris in 1849 and 1850-51. In this work of art, Coubert portrayed common people from his native region on a scale previously reserved for the elevation of themes in painting about history. He used people who were present at the burial (Darrow & Julius, 2005). This painting was selected for this study because of the message that is sought to pass across to the public. The realism in the 315 by 668 cm oil painting comes through the burial of Coubert’s great uncle. The setting is in Ornans, a small town in France (York & Salinger, 2004). The painting had a significant effect on the art scene, since it did not have the depictions that most artistes would bring out. This work of art was unique in the sense that it had an unflattering air. Gourmet did not attempt to romanticize the depictions of mourning and grief in this art work, as most artists of that time would have (York & Salinger, 2004). The art work received immense criticism for the style used and the size. The painting was 22 feet wide and 10 feet tall on canvas. Coubert used the size that before was reserved for heroic scenes and religious pieces of art. The dominant color of the painting is black, with a horizon with light. The imagery in the painting is that the light coming from the horizon did not depict eternity, rather the death of Romanticism. This art work communicated Coubert’s dislike for Romanticism, which led to harsh criticism about his works of art, with most people saying that his work slighted religion. 2. First Steps by Vincent Van Gogh Van Gogh (1853-1850) painted this work of art in 1890. He had surrendered himself to an asylum. The painting was based on his admiration of Jean-Francois Millet, a French artiste who Vincent admittedly admired (Smith, 2009). This artwork depicts images of a child learning to walk while getting assistance from an elder lady, mostly seen to be the mother of the child. The original painting by Millet, going by the same title was inspired by images on paintings of Jesus learning to walk (Boime, 2007). Vincent’s ‘First Steps’ was painted in oil and on canvas, and its dimensions were 72.4 by 92.1 cm. The image on the work of art is dominated by the color green, which is a color for prosperity. The family scene in the painting is intimate and is an appealing sight. The coloring was harmonious, as was characteristic of Vincent’s paintings (Darrow & Julius, 2005). The work of art is symbolic in the sense that everyone learns to do something new at one point in their lives, as seen with the child. During this period, there were revolts all over Europe, with people fighting for more democratic space. This painting passes the message of an awakening society that fought against autocratic rule. The people were willing to learn new methods of governance. It is this reality that formed part of van Gogh’s inspiration. Vincent wrote to his brother Theo before commencing work on this art work, saying that he was himself deep in nature, and highlighted the fact that the beauty of that art work exceeded that of the landscapes. He later sent the finished work to his brother (Smith, 2009). 3. A Path In-between the Rocks by Theodore Rousseau This work of art was painted in 1861, in the aftermath of the 1848 French revolution. The painting was painted by oil and on wood, and its size was 38.1 by 60 cm. The technique used by Rousseau (1812-1867) brings out a light-filed, lively surface with notable delicate translucent glazes’ touch, which gave most of his work some sense of maturity. The images in the art work are of a dry path cutting across a rocky terrain, with green trees forming the background (York & Salinger, 2004). The symbolism on this work of art comes out in the fact that it was painted in a period when people rallied for change in France. Even after the collapse of the Louis-Phillippe monarchy, there were still hardships that the people went through. The path is symbolic of the journey made by the French in their quest to seek democracy in the political system (Boime, 2007). Some analysts believe that this work by Rousseau was indicative of the progress that the French made after the revolution, with the reality of the hardships depicted in the image. Further, the light in the artwork is depictive of the hope of the French after the ouster of the monarchy. This work of art showing the Fontainebleau Forest, is still popular and has received acclamation for its beauty. Comparative Analysis All the works of art discussed herein were depictive of the growth of realism from late eighteenth century to late nineteenth century (Boime, 2007). All the paintings were in a way influenced by the political activities around Europe during this period. The difference is in the images in the painting, and some differences in the deeper content as analyzed by different individuals. While both Coubert and van Gogh used canvas, Rousseau used wood. The reason for the difference in choice of material is not clear, though it is subject to the freedom of the artist (Darrow & Julius, 2005). From the images, it is clear that Coubert’s expression of Realism was more extreme than Rousseau’s or van Gogh’s. Conclusion The advent of Realism in art in Europe around the nineteenth century led to a difference in the way people view art. Realism gained acceptance, with more artists training on Realism and less subscribing to the conventional romanticism. The effect that Realism had on art remains significant, with more artists developing works of art based on Realism from the nineteenth century up to the 21st century. In modern days, realism in art is depicted in the works of artists such as Coulter Prehm and Howard Johnson. References Boime, A. (2007). Art in an age of civil struggle, 1848-1871. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Darrow, C., & Julius, E. (2005). Realism in literature and art. Girard, Kan.: Haldeman-Julius Co.. Smith, D. R. (2009). Realism And The Boundaries Of Genre In Dutch Art. Art History, 32(1), 78-114. York, N., & Salinger, M. M. (2004). French paintings, a catalogue of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. Read More