Realism Or how we stopped talking about fields of flowers in such dreadfully romantic ways Annibale Carracci, “The Butcher's Shop” 1585s

“The life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” -Thomas Hobbes, 1651 England in the 1600s… Average life expectancy was 35 largely because two-thirds of children died before the age of four.

Realism first started to take hold in France around 1850 after yet another French Revolution. Its heyday ran for about 40 years before other movements started to phase into the arts. Realists flatly rejected Romanticism, which had dominated literature from the late 1700s to the middle 1800s.

Realism in prose was made especially famous by Russians Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy, as well as Frenchman Guy de Maupassant. These and other authors dominated the late 1800s and helped lay the groundwork for Modernism, which materialized during the late 1910s and continues today.

Let’s compare some Romantic painting to Realist Eugene Delacroix, “Liberty leading the people” commemorates the French Revolution of 1830

Let’s compare some Romantic painting to Realist Henry Fuseli, “The Nightmare”, 1781

Let’s compare some Romantic painting to Realist Casper Friedrich, “The Abbey in the Oakwood”, 1810

Let’s compare some Romantic painting to Realist Thomas Eakins, “The Gross Clinic” 1875

Let’s compare some Romantic painting to Realist Gustave Courbet, “The Stone Breakers” 1850

Let’s compare some Romantic painting to Realist Winslow Homer, “Eight Bells” 1886

Tenants of Realism First rule of Realism – represent life as it really is. Second rule of Realism – represent life as it really is NO MATTER WHAT. What is your life like? Write three sentences assessing how your life really is.

Faithfully represent life as it is -convincing structure of reality -emphasizes accurate, even photographic detail -objective: showing rather than telling -mutes or removes the author's commentary -reinforces the socially responsible view

Reject idealizing conventions / reject Romanticism -represents direct experience -avoids the visionary, and theatrical -life may not turn out for the best -prefers images to symbols

Take subjects from contemporary life -emphasizes the experienced commonplace -deals with social/political issues of the day -peasants, businessmen, housewives

Represent middle class attitudes -focuses on character more than events or plot -avoids the sensational: plausible events -employs a natural, everyday diction -promotes morality without overt moralizing

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun (Sonnet 130) by William Shakespeare My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

Homework Rewrite Cinderella or a similar fairy tale as a Realist might. Remember to faithfully represent life as it really is with subjects from contemporary life. Repeat the mantra: Life as it is Life as it is Life as it is