How Do You Paint In The Realism Style?
In the last half of the 19th Century, realism dominated a lot of art, literature and public opinion. Painters of the realism style discarded fantasy and myth for basic, everyday life. Reject the themes and subjects of classical and romantic art. History, religion, myth and literature are not found in realist paintings. Consider only contemporary subjects. The realism art movement is a shift in art away from the past. Realism paintings have a sense of “nowness.” Depict a scene of complete normalcy. The paintings should portray something that happens on any given day. People can be washing dishes, eating breakfast or working their daily job. Focus on the middle and lower classes of society. Realism ignores the higher echelons and declares that even the lowest, most unexceptional figure is worthy of artistic portrayal. Keep the themes material or earthly. Avoid emotions like faith, love, hope or fear. Emotions found in a realist painting might be hunger, carnal desire, exhaustion or pain.
