Romantic Blog Post: Realism vs Impressionism

    The Romantic period was a time marked by intense and continuous change in nearly every circle. Scientific developments, political upheaval, and social unrest all contributed toward rapid and unceasing change in the art world. While the Romantic era was divided into many categories, I am going to compare the Realist and Impressionist styles. 

    Realism developed as a reaction against the emotional idealism of Romanticism. Instead of portraying intensely dramatic scenes, Realists focused on average people living out their everyday lives. Common subjects were the lower classes, peasants, farmers, and other working class people. Instead of trying to beautify their subjects, the Realists frequently painted them hard at work in gritty, unglamorous situations. 

    Take, for example, The Stone Breakers by Gustave Courbet.

 

    Painted in 1849 in France, this work shows two French peasants, one young and one old, hard at work making gravel for the roads. The entire point of this work is to show the plight of the lower classes. The workers faces are not shown, an intentional move on Courbet's part. We have no sense of their individual identity, instead, they are meant to be more of everymen representing thousands in the same condition. The bright directional lighting draws the eye to their ragged clothing, worn shoes, and rough hands. Note especially the way Courbet gives the same amount of finishing to the rocks and equipment that he does to the people. This makes the painting feel much more like a glimpse into real life. 

    Being a gravel maker was one of the worst jobs of that time. It was a huge amount of very difficult labor for very low pay, and was usually reserved for chain gangs. However, despite the backbreaking work and terrible conditions, the stone breakers seem to have a sort of quiet dignity. (Harris, and Zucker)

    This is one of the biggest things Realism stood for: bringing respect for hard work and those who had previously been ignored. While previous styles focused on the rich upper classes, Realism brought attention to those who laid the foundations of the country the rich ruled. 

    Another example, possibly my favorite Realist work, is The Song of the Lark, by Jules Adolphe Breton. 

    This work was completed in 1884 in France. It is 43 1/2 × 33 3/4 in, oil on canvas. This painting is much softer than The Stone Breakers and gives more attention to beauty. The painting shows a young peasant woman, perhaps in her late teens or twenties standing in a field with the sun rising in the background. She is barefoot and holds a scythe in one hand. Her mouth is slightly open, as if she is singing to herself. Though she has likely been out working for some time and still has a long day ahead of her, she stares off into the distance with the sort of determined, yet confident expression one might expect to see on the face of a soldier going into battle surrounded by an army. Her scythe is her sword, and the field is her battleground. (Breton)

    Note the way Breton's lines and use of light echo the real world. This painting could almost be taken to look like a photograph, another Realists tried to achieve. 

    Though this work is emotionally inspiring, the traits of Realism are strong. Breton takes a woman who would otherwise have been considered inferior, and shows the world that she is beautiful. This is particularly important because of the way that he does it. The woman's clothing is drab and plain. She is barefoot and her hair is tied up in an unglamorous cloth behind her head. Her rolled up sleeves reveal her muscled arms. She has lived a life of hard work. 

    Unlike previous styles such as Rococo, Renaissance, or Romantic, this woman isn't beautiful because of her clothing, her stature, or great events she has participated in. It is her willingness and determination to work hard and survive in a world that is stacked against her, and sing anyway. 

    Like most styles in the Romantic era, Realism soon became a thing of the past and was replaced with Impressionism. 

    Unlike the orderliness of Realism, Impressionists worked with loose brushstrokes, bright colors, and more attention to light and mood than detail. 

    Claude Monet's Poppy Fields Near Argenteuil is a great example of Impressionist style. 

    Painted in 1873, it is oil on canvas and was completed in Argentuil. It shows a bright, sunny summer's day where the artist's wife Camille and her son are out for a walk through a field of poppies. It is a very pleasant scene, one that I wish I could walk right into. 

    Impressionist painters loved to use loose, fluid brushstrokes and bright colors. They also tended to have a very strong focus on natural light, and portraying a scene as it would have looked exactly in the moment, complete with dappled light from trees or passing clouds. The finished product would be less about finished detail, but more about capturing the essence or mood of a moment. 

    This is very clearly seen in this painting. Monet doesn't focus on making sure every single individual flower or blade of grass is clear, he uses broad sweeps of color and blobs of paint to convey general ideas: impressions. ("The Poppy Field Near Argenteuil, 1873 By Claude Monet")

    While this style is very different from the ones we have studied so far, I find it very enjoyable. Something about the natural light, the bright flowers, and the simplicity of just going for a walk is very appealing to me. 

    Another painting that shows Impressionist style very well is In a Park, by Berthe Morisot. 

    Also in an outdoor setting, this work shows a mother with her children and dog simply enjoying nature. This work was completed in 1874 and is pastel on paper. 

    Again, notice how Morisot uses long, rough brushstrokes, natural light, and color. There are no clear details. Even the faces of the children are difficult to make out. However, despite the fact that details are lacking, we get a clear sense of the long, dry grass, the trees in the background, and the presence of the family. ("In A Park By Berthe Morisot")

    Though Realism and Impressionism were very close together chronologically, they had major differences. Realism strove to elevate the common person and show their dignity in spite of their hard circumstances. Realist artists used sharp, clean lines and paid attention to details, while Impressionists were more concerned with light , color, and mood. Impressionists were less concerned with putting a deeper purpose in their art, and were more interested in art for art's sake. Though they may have had their differences, both styles were innovative and resulted in priceless works that humanity has enjoyed for several centuries. ("Impressionism - Important Paintings")

    While I greatly enjoy both styles, I must admit that I have a slight preference toward Realism. The level of detail, as well as the attempt to show the common person as a valuable human being appeals to me. Impressionists were innovative in their use of light and color, as well as pushing the definitions of what could be considered high art, but they were less concerned with the plight of their fellow humans. 

    The Romantic era was full of change, surprises, and amazing developments in the art world. I encourage the reader to keep learning, as many of the greatest works of art of all time were produced during this time. 

Bibliography:

"The Poppy Field Near Argenteuil, 1873 By Claude Monet". Claude-Monet.Com, 2021, https://www.claude-monet.com/the-poppy-field.jsp.

"Impressionism - Important Paintings". The Art Story, 2021, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/impressionism/artworks/.

"In A Park By Berthe Morisot". Berthe-Morisot.Com, 2021, http://www.berthe-morisot.com/in-a-park/.

Harris, Beth, and Stephen Zucker. "Courbet, The Stonebreakers". Khan Academy, 2021, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/modernity-ap/a/courbet-the-stonebreakers.

Breton, Jules. "The Song Of The Lark | The Art Institute Of Chicago". The Art Institute Of Chicago, 2021, https://www.artic.edu/artworks/94841/the-song-of-the-lark.