Realist paintings
The Realist era, which gained popularity during the mid-19th century, was a reaction against the romanticism that had dominated the art world. Realist artists wanted to depict everyday life and ordinary people with honesty and without adding layers of drama or mysticism to their paintings. Paintings and artwork during the Realism period were smooth, subtle, not overly dramatic, and had some ease to them.
Here we mention 6 excellent paintings from the Realist era.
‘The Gross Clinic’ by Thomas Eakins
‘The Gross Clinic’ features 5-6 people, with a head doctor, a woman sitting in despair, and a few men operating a body. The doctor stands in the centre, confidently overseeing the surgery while the others have their gaze freezed on the body. This painting is an excellent example of Realism as it shows everything as is with no additional element or drama.
Eakins uses a dark, muted palette dominated by browns and blacks, with the stark white of the patient’s cloth drawing the eye to the centre of the surgery.
(Image: Pinterest)
‘Burial at Ornans’ by Gustave Courbet
Gustave Courbet is one of the most famous names in Realism and his paintings explain why. This large-scale painting shows a scene from the funeral of Courbet’s great-uncle in the small town of Ornans and includes many different figures from the town, including priests, mourners, and local villagers. The central focus though is on the priest and the coffin that is being laid down with the villagers watching.
(Image: Pinterest)
‘Bonjour Monsieur Courbet’ by Gustave Courbet
This painting is like a self-portrait but with two other characters in it. It shows Courbet meeting Alfred Bruyas, his patron, along with Bruyas’s servant and dog, on a road in the countryside. Courbet is depicted with his painting gear, greeting Bruyas with a confident and informal gesture.
The use of colours in this one is natural and muted and beautifully captures the background making the painting and expression look real and life-like.
(Image: Pinterest)
‘The Gleaners’ by Jean Francois Millet
‘The Gleaners’ shows three peasant women gleaning, or collecting leftover grains, in a field after the harvest. The women are shown bent over, working under the hot sun. This painting too is extremely realistic with its stance and condition for this is the exact way day-to-day labour is performed. There is additional emotions or drama of somebody trying to steal the grains, or having to pick out the minutest stones, or the likes.
The painting has warm, earthy tones that feel like natural light is lighting up a picture.
(Image: Pinterest)
‘Portrait of an Unknown Woman’ by Ivan Kramskoi
A beautiful painting of the Realism era is this one. It is the portrait of a young woman sitting in a carriage, looking directly at the viewer with a calm and composed expression. And it is in the way she carries herself, her head up high, her eyes straight and her confident composure that gives this painting a regal look.
Kramskoi uses dark, rich colours with a focus on the textures of the woman’s clothing and the interior of the carriage.
(Image: Pinterest)
‘The Balcony’ by Edouard Manet
‘The Balcony’ is another beautiful example of Realism by Manet and features three people. The three of them can be seen standing on a balcony, gazing out at the viewer, and their expressions are one of leisure and slight question. While two people (a man and a woman) are standing up straight, looking at the audience, there is another woman sitting in front, also looking straight ahead.
Manet uses a bright colour palette for this one and highlights well the contrasts between the figures and the dark background.
(Image: Pinterest)
Start a Conversation
Post comment