Art History Lecture: Realism and Impressionism

Introduction

Focus on Impressionism for upcoming videos.
Importance of understanding previous art movements to grasp the evolution of art.

Definition: Unembellished depiction of nature and contemporary life.
Characteristics:
- Rejection of idealized imagination.
- Depiction of everyday people and activities.
- Aimed to show life of the majority, not just the wealthy.
- Revolutionary at the time, redefining the art world.
Historical Context:
- Contrasted with history paintings which were considered the highest form of art in France for nearly two centuries.
- History paintings depicted narratives from classical mythology, the Bible, or historical events.

Neoclassicism: Exemplified by David’s "Oath of the Horatii".
- Focus on narratives of honor and virtue.
- Figures idealized in classic Roman style.
Romanticism:
- Emerged from Neoclassicism.
- Injected more emotion and movement.
- Example: Delacroix’s "Liberty Leading the People".
- Still clung to grand and idealized subjects.

Shift in Depiction:
- Artists began depicting everyday life and people on the same scale as aristocracy.
- Example works: "The Stone Breakers" and "The Gleaners".
- Scenes of working-class life, industrialization, city life.

Photography:
- Emerged in mid-19th century.
- Influenced realism by accurately depicting the world.
Journalism:
- Similar impact as photography.
- Reaction to scientific discoveries and societal changes.

Criticism:
- Realist art was not always welcomed.
- Often rejected from government exhibitions and salons.
- Made viewers uncomfortable by confronting mundane realities.

Upcoming videos will delve deeper into the reception of artwork and feature discussions on key artists and their work within the realism movement.

Stay tuned for further discussions on how these movements laid the groundwork for Impressionism.