Realist Style

Realism in the arts concerns the depiction of characters, subjects, situations and objects as they appear in everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation. Realism often refers more specifically to an artistic movement which began in France in the 1850s, which revolted against the exaggerated emotionalism of the romantic movement. Many paintings which sprung up during the time of realism depicted people at work, as during the 19th century there were many open workplaces due to the Industrial Revolution. The term is also used to refer to works of art which, in revealing a truth, may emphasize the ugly or sordid, such as works of social realism, regionalism or kitchen-sink realism. Realists tend to discard theatrical drama, lofty subjects and classical forms of art in favour of commonplace themes and a fondness for humble objects or homely details.