Romanticism and Realism are both highly influential art periods, however, they depict their subject matter in vastly different ways. Political, social, and ecological understanding changed how society viewed art. Romanticism and Realism had different objectives. Romanticism to produce emotion and Realism to document reality by looking at these periods in depth one can gain a better understanding of the importance of these periods on the world of art.
Early Romanticism
Romanticism is usually considered a spinoff of Neo-classicism. The Romantic period begins with the turn of the 19th century, from those who did not find inspiration of the seriousness of Neo-classicism and its distaste of merely decorative art ("Lecture: The enlightenment,”). The artist’s feelings are expressed with spontaneous brush strokes and the exotic and imaginative was explored.Early Romanticism was a reaction to the French Revolution followed by the Napoleonic Wars(Witcombe, 2009). War and social struggle had beaten down society, and within this pain they sought to find pleasure in art. Often this art work was used to express creativity and present complex ideas through the simple use of emotion.
Romanticism art is all about finding a small spark of creativity inside and developing it without boundaries of realism. The artists are adept at telling stories within their pieces. The ability to understand what the artist had in mind must translate to the viewer. Not only should they be able to understand the narrative a great Romanticism piece will spark the viewer’s imagination as well.
Romanticism was a revolt from the Industrial Revolution. Society was moving away for aristocratic influence and wants to move away from the harsh realities of industrial city life. This renewed interest in nature and emotion inducing subject matters.Romantic traditions went on to influence Pre-Raphaelite movement and the Symbolist painters. However, Impressionism may have been the most notable successor.
Romanticism Artwork
Social or political concerns can often greatly influence art. For example, Francisco de Goya’s “The Third of May” depicts a dark moment in history, showing the horrors of war. After the conquering of Spain by Napoleon, Spanish citizens revolted against a corrupt monarchy(Kleiner, 1998). Goya’s subjects in “The Third of May” are the rebel fighters who lost their lives as a result of Spanish execution. His goal was to show the dark nature of the Napoleonic conquest as a form of social protest.
The scene depicts a somewhat spontaneous action, clearly illustrating the fear on the faces of the rebels. The soldiers remain faceless, perhaps to present a cold, emotionless façade. The rebels’ faces in contrast are full of emotion. Those being executed are shown within the only lighted area of the painting; the rest is shrouded in darkness, leaving no doubt that Goya intended for the rebels to be the focal point of the piece.
The painting as a whole is a bit blurred and loosely painted, and speaks of a dream like quality. This quality adds some softness to the intensity of the list. The colors within the painting are vivid and warm in tone suggesting energy. Romanticism can be seen as a move away from order and balance. This work personifies this trait with the chaotic subject matter ("Lecture: The enlightenment,”). The injustice related in the painting provokes an emotional response. The viewer can almost feel the emotional turmoil as they view it.
In the painting “After the Hurricane, Bahamas” by Winslow Homerwe see another common element of Romanticism, emotion through nature. In “After the Hurricane, Bahamas” the fury of the storm is the subject matter. There is a lot of emotion in the piece. The use of a storm as a subject matter is very reminiscent of giving nature emotion. Romanticism is often about telling a story in a dramatic manner.
Realism
The realism art periodbegan at the during the 1848 French Revolution in an attempt to bring a more realistic quality to art(Kleiner, 1998). Like Romanticism, Realism also often related a moral or social message(Kleiner, 1998).The goal of truth is paramount to realism. However, unlike Romanticism, realism paintings give a straightforward depiction of life. Usually realism depicts spontaneous events or scenes from life. The goal is to make art that is accurate and moving, whether it is a positive or negative reaction. Artists also often embrace the darker side of reality by exploring natural life processes(Kleiner, 1998). The measurement of accuracy and truth with as few distortions as possible is key to proper technique; nothing is staged, edited, or composed for the work(Witcombe, 2009). Art has been developed mainly for a medium of imagination; however this does not necessarily apply to realism. Instead the artist usesemotional responses to the artwork can impact how we view “truth”. The realism period has made a contribution to the world by recording cultural tradition, events, people, and places these memories can be preserved and studied for future generations. Like the late Romanticism period, the late realism period was also influenced by the Industrial Revolution, however instead of taking a more imaginative approach; Realists depicted the Industrial Revolution with all its flaws. Art depicted the lives of people at this time including the struggles they faced.
The subject can be anything as long it is of interest and is meaningful to the artist or the viewer. Typically this is an emotionally touching image or something of historical/social importance. In Realism art the artist endeavors to surround the viewer by images so that they feel that the images are “true” to them, so that they feel a part of the experience. Art often has two opposing conflicts, scientific and aesthetic, in this period artist put them together to bring order to an experience.
Realism Artwork
In the painting “Woman with a Parrot” by Gutave Courbet, Courbet personifies realism.The woman who is the subject of the piece very anatomically correct(Gombrich, 2003). Her position upon the bed is natural and not posed. By today’s standards she is no idealized beauty, instead an accurate representation of a real life woman that we might see in our everyday life. The relaxed pose of the composition and unclothed woman was quiet scandalous for the time and brought new interest to Realism as an art movement. The viewer almost feels as if they are walking in on this woman spontaneously, the intimacy of the scene may be why it was so controversial. The painting is not over dramatized focusing mainly on the woman, the parrot, and the draped cloth. These subjects are clearly the focus and Courbet doesn’t crowd the composition with unneeded adornments(Gombrich, 2003).
Comparing Earlier and Later Works of Art
When one looks at Courbet’s “Woman with a Parrot” one can clearly see the influence that Romanticism had on Realism. Like “The Third of May”, “Woman with a Parrot” induces an emotional response, whether it be awe at her naked form or embarrassment by the sheer audacity of the artist to display her in this manner. Unlike “The Third of May”, “Woman with a Parrot” doesn’t have a particular social or political message although many other realism pieces do. The both have a hap hazard composition and a bold use of color to bring attention to the subject. Emotional response remains a key link between these two periods.
Romanticism and RealismComparison
Romanticism and Realism have many similarities and differences. They both depicted often similar subject matters, such as nature or social interests. Both also move away from using order, balance, or ornamentation in their compositions. However they also have many differences. The subjects of a Romanticism piece are often exaggerated or larger than life, such as a folk hero, myth, or someone from history. The main subjects of a Realism piece are very true to life and are usually everyday people from the contemporary life.
Romanticism also rejected industrialization desiring to go back to a more natural form. Realism embraced industrialization by painting a picture of life at that time. Nature was a common subject matter in both periods; however Romantics typically focused on the emotional aspect of nature such as its aesthetically pleasing beauty or its awe inspiring fury. Realists in contrast showed nature as it truly was. The Darwinist perspective of documenting natural elements for the contribution of knowledge was prevalent in the Realism period. Art from the realism period proves that there is not always a happy ending in life and that art portraying realities is just as important as inspirational art.
Stylistically Romanticism art typically has bold, expressive strokes. Vivid, often unnatural colors may be incorporated to enhance the mood. The composition is usually composed so as to make the greatest visual impact. In Realism art the style is usually more carefully controlled. Often highly detailed, this artwork is meant to chronicle what is in front of the artist even if it is not aesthetically pleasing. Nothing is posed or embellished. Romanticism art takes a metaphorical approach to art while Realism takes a literal one.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Romanticism and Realism period were both very influential to art history. Both move away from strict standards and towards a more freeing form of art. Previously art typically was only for the privileged in society. This also allowed for art to be used for educational purposes, to teach about the world. Romanticism and Realism changed this by making art relatable to everyone. These two periods were essential for helping transcend art into the modern age. Art of these periods provide both comfort against social ills and an in depth understanding about culture during that time.
References:
Anonymous (n.d.). Lecture: "Enlightenment and the Romantic Era." Retrieved on 2/9/13 at: http://www.stockton.edu/~fergusoc/romantic/romantic.htm
Gombrich, E. (2003). The story of art.Phaidon.
Kleiner, F. (1998) Gardner's art through the ages.(13 ed., Vol. 1).Wadsworth Publishing.
WGU.(n.d.).WGU. Mind Edge Online. Retrieved February 9, 2013, from wgu.mindedgeonline.com/content.php?cid=19780
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Witcombe, C. (2009). Art history: Resources on the web. Retrieved on 2/9/13 at:
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html
