Romanticism
Imagine something that doesn't exist, like a man with the muscles of a god. Or a woman with the features of a goddess. Romanticism makes that possible. It allowed artists to break the ceilings of reality and enter a world not seen, not heard, but felt. Emotions and feelings were the strokes of the paintbrush. It created some of the best masterpieces known to man and became one of the biggest art movements after the renaissance. The movement was spread across all the fields of art, visual, music, literature and one can even find examples of Romanticism throughout the periods architecture and science developments. Beginning towards the end of the 18th century, its peak lasted till the 1850’s. Partly spurred by the Industrial revolution, it mistrusted science and therefore relied on the imagination of authors to provide extreme fantasy works.
Eugene Delacroix’s Liberty leading the people is a painting of a bare-breasted, bare-footed woman that is personified as “liberty” leading the people with the french flag in one hand, and a bayonet in the other, depicting that only with violence and bravery will we better this fight, and win. She is shown on a pedestal of dead bodies, the martyrs, on which she stands as if to say that their death will not be in vain if all of you still keep fighting.
One of the key elements of the painting that connects it to the Romantic movement is its emphasis on emotion and drama. Delacroix was known for his vivid and expressive brushstrokes, and this is evident in the way he has depicted the figures in the painting. The woman representing Liberty is shown with a fierce and determined expression, while the soldiers around her are shown with looks of determination and resolve.
The painting also has a strong political message, as it celebrates the ideals of freedom and democracy that were at the heart of the French Revolution. The woman personifying Liberty is seen as a symbol of the fight for these ideals, and the painting serves as a tribute to those who fought and died for them.
Realism
Realism, as the name suggests, was a depiction of the real, the complete opposite of Romanticism. It rejected romanticising events and people, and it gathered momentum towards the end of the French revolution in 1848. This art movement switched the focus back from heroic adventures to mundane, everyday scenes, centered around man and nature. The artists were tired of portraying what didn’t exist, and making something only a minority could relate to and enjoy, they now wanted to show reality, the simple and the unseen parts of life, the parts everyone takes for granted. There didn't have to be anything special, just a truthful depiction of the subject, which could be anything. Common scenes from day to day life of the authors and the people were the centerpiece of this movement. Realism wanted to put the misery of the people and their hardships on canvas for the world to see. It refrained from exaggerating anything to the point where it becomes a false depiction, rather sticking to exposing detail in the unexciting.
Gustave Courbet was a famous realist, a painter that showed the true colors of life, whether you liked it or not. For example, his painting, the stone breakers, created in 1849. It depicts two laborers engaged in the back-breaking work of breaking stones for use in construction. The painting is considered an important work within the realm of realism, sought to depict the world as it really is, rather than idealizing it or romanticizing it.
One of the key features of "The Stone Breakers" that connects it to the realism movement is its focus on the harsh realities of the lives of the working class. Courbet was known for his commitment to social justice and his desire to shed light on the struggles of the poor and working class. In this painting, he portrays the laborers as exhausted and worn down, their bodies bent over in exhaustion as they labor under the hot sun.
Another important aspect of the painting that connects it to realism is its attention to detail. Courbet was known for his meticulous attention to detail, and this is evident in the way he has rendered the laborers' clothing, the tools they use, and the surrounding landscape. Each element of the painting is carefully crafted to accurately depict the reality of the scene.
I have even posted a similar blog on Realism and Gustave Courbet. You can clink the link below to read more about the realism movement and Gustave Courbet.
Comments