ROMANTIC VS REALISM
The romantic era emerged from the transition from neoclassicism. As the romantic style of this era came to be, it then began to turn into a more realistic style. These two may not have the actual tendency of love or real subject to it, rather the ideology of the painting will reflect the two. Art is always evolving and changing, as one style becomes prominent, it can be enhanced or changed to another developed style. As for comparisons, romanticism was the huge art movement the paved the way of Realism in America and Europe. While Realism was a response against Romanticism that changed the focus from fantasy to reality. Philosophically, romanticism sought out for exotic, heroic and romantic subjects within present life. As realists found interest in more modest material in present life. Each had the intentions of creating emotions and imagination in one while the other intended to deliver ordinance in life.
Romantic art was seen as "the emotional sublime of art." (Haller) It was also characterized as imaginative, focusing on the subjective and emphasized the individual. As neoclassicism before this era was popular, it was believed that it lacked the emotion and focused on the idealism. When you see a theatrical and emotional piece, it came from the romantic era. "The true essence of romanticism is magnified by the self-expression and imagination of the artist." (Parashar)
On the other hand, Realist art brought on ordinance of life and its events. Artists were attempting to display the "lives, appearances, problems, customs and more of the middle and lower class." (Britannica) Realists were very factual and and generalist unlike romanticism. It is not the depiction of the subject being real or not, but more so the space and details of the piece. The not so theatrical art style's subject matter consisted of live stock, farm workers, middle class, and ordinary activities.
ROMANTICISM ART:
The Burial of Atala by Anne-Louis Giordet de Roucy-Trioson. 1808. France.
THE ART
This painting of The Burial of Atala is made by Anne-Louis Giordet de Roucy-Trioson in France, 1808. This is an oil on canvas painting with the dimensions of 54.6 x 62.2cm. Just by first impressions this piece releases the emotions of heartache, love, death, grief and loss. Through the young man holding onto the young woman's leg you can tell that he loves her. As you can also see grief within the older gentleman's face you can see the heartache, loss and grief. This painting is based off of a "story set in 17th century America." (Haller) Atala, the young European woman vowed on her mother's death bed to keep her virginity. As she developed love for the young Native American man, Chactas, she committed suicide rather than breaking that vow to her mother. This leading to the burial done by her lover and a priest, Father Aubry.
ART ELEMENT'S AND ARTIST'S INTENTIONS
This piece is connected with the romantic era through its emotional sublime, focusing on the subjective and emphasis of Atala, you can see through the elements the artist displayed. Color, symbolization, texture, and tone. The symbolization is through the use of colors, tone and texture. You can characterize the white shroud dress as innocence and purity along with the cross in her hands, all which were part of European cultures. During this time period Native Americans were seen with this characterization; lack of clothing, long hair, and dark complexion. The colors and tones also help deliver a mood to feel upon looking at this painting and the creation of texture. You can see texture though their clothing and even the muscles on Chactas.
The intentions of this painting were viewed as themes of Christianity as you can see the cross within the background, while also being based off of a novella written by Chateaubriand. It was found that this painting depicted the renewal of religion within France. As the novella was created Giordet used this as inspiration to create a piece based off the "romance of the subject by setting the dramatic denouement." (Huguenaud) The artist viewed it as "the sadness of Chactas clasping the lifeless body of his beloved and the sympathy by Father Aubry complete this piece already a long way towards Romanticism." (Huguenaud)
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich. 1817. Germany.
THE ART
Caspar Friedrich created in Germany,
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog in 1817. This oil on canvas painting has the dimensions of 95 x 75cm. Upon viewing this piece I can feel the emotions of peace, quiet, discovery, romance and even lost but not lost. The man within the center of the piece is overlooking a view of fog but doesn't seem to be lost but is in a way in order to find his way while loving the journey he is on. Friedrich's piece shows a figure standing at the center standing on a rocky surface overlooking a "sea of fog" that is lying over a hill with rocks. He
"exemplified strong emotions as he place one man, gazing at a vast and unknowable territory." (Cohen)This piece is known to be possibly a self-portrait, of
"none other than Caspar himself." (Parashar) As the figure within the center is standing with his back to the viewers, he is seen as essentially alluring people to see the world through his point of view. As it is believed by some that this can be a self-portrait of Caspar, it was a way of seeing through his view and share his experience within this romantic piece.
ART ELEMENT'S AND ARTIST'S INTENTIONS
This piece is known widely for the connection with the Romantic era. As Caspar was one of the famous artist for romanticism, he used his art style of create this piece. The color of contrasting colors, texture, tone, symbolization, and line work. Friedrich's use of contrasting colors as the fog was a very light color and creating the figure to be dark creates emphasis on the figure. Within the background you can see that color and tone helps create texture within the rocks, mountains, and the fog itself creating depth. The use of texture and color also helps emphasize the depth of the painting as it is supposed to portray an overlooking view. This piece has many ideas to it as some say it can be symbolizing as some can say the "feeling" of it creates that romantic sensation. The symbolization can be the use of the elements together to create this simple but strong piece that can be seen as discovery.
REALISM ART:
The Painter’s Studio: A Real Allegory Summing Up Seven Years of My Life as an Artist by Gustave Courbet. 1854–55. France.
THE ART
Gustave Courbet created
The Painter's Studio in France within 1854-55. This painting is an oil on canvas has the dimensions of 361 x 598 cm. You can feel the inspiration, longing, drama, radiance, interest and mysterious. The young boy, model and audience all look longing and inspired by the painter in the center. While the audience within the left side give off a drama affect as the whole painting brings radiance, interest and mystery in a realistic way. Courbet's piece is a realistic piece of his journey through art and the traditions of it. It is seen as a
"genuine allegory and Courbet's allegory of philosophy behind Realism." (Honigman) At the center of the painting is Courbet himself painting a typical type of painting of his style, which is a symbol his "truth" in painting. The model to the right of him watching him paint is a representation of beauty and tradition within that era. On the right side is drawings of Courbet's collectors, patrons, and friends. Among them you can recognize
"Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and Charles Baudelaire" (Honigman) for instance. The left side is a crowd of ordinary people of France, along with a possible crucified figure within them. While at the center alongside is a young peasant boy, who seems to be very interested in the painting. This boy signifies that Courbet's opinion is most drawn to the young boy as it demonstrates the importance for artists to look and amount to the beauty of their present reality. In combination, this painting represents the ordinance of Courbet and he is doing so by creating a piece depicting all things, ordinary.
ART ELEMENT'S AND ARTIST'S INTENTIONS
As Gustave's painting consisted of landscapes, this piece was seen as mysterious with a secret message to it. He did manage to use that style and those elements with this piece as well. His use of contrasting colors, texture, shape, space and value. As this seems like a dark and mysterious piece, Gustave has done so through his use of contrasting colors. The elements and subjects in the center all remain light as the model and the painting have light tones to it, it draws the attentions to that. While the background remains with dark colors and values to create dimension, focal point and depth. Shape and space also contribute to depth as shape can express length and width of subjects while space creates that feeling through negative spaces, creating the illusion of depth. Lastly, the use of color and value help create texture, as a painting is flat adding this adds depth and meaning to a painting as you can see it within the clothes, the tail of animal in the middle. These elements have created a new sense of realism for this artist.
Gustave's painting was not accepted within this era as the "'real' points to the shifting notion of morality." (Harris et al.) This idea that Courbet had created was expressed through symbols within the painting. Each section of this painting had intent behind it, as the model was noticed to not have attention at her while she was actually paying attention to the ordinary landscape that was being painted. While the boy to the left is looking up in thoughts about "adulthood, truth of the word and the important goal for Courbet, to unlearn the lessons of the art academy." (Harris et al.) Courbet wanted to depict the return to the pureness of the child. You can see realism within the crowds and background as well. The left hand was a compilation of ordinary people like woodsman, villagers, a jew, and more. While on the right side, were more well-dressed and handsome group of people as they depicted as the wealthy and fortunate of those times. Courbet was the founder and leader of Realism within the 19th century and he helped direct focus on ordinary people, everyday themes and customs of people. This piece from Courbet was "depictions of rural domestic dramas and radiant landscapes." (Honigman)
The Gleaners By Jean François Millet. 1857. France.
THE ART
Jean F. Millet created
The Gleaners in France, 1857. This is a 83.8 x 111.8 cm oil on canvas masterpiece. The emotions that you can feel and think about are ordinate, appreciative, realism, hardship and peaceful. This is a depiction of an ordinary group of women that show appreciative hardship doing something ordinary and peaceful. This painting portrays 3 women bent over as they collect grains from their wheat field. It is a representation of the
"working class life duties during the mid-19th century." (Artlex) It's a highlight of also possible struggles as everyday people made use of every resource to live and make ends meet. The history of this painting served as a non-inviting theme to art especially from the upper classes. Courbet researched the process within French peasants at the time and its social radicalism.
ART ELEMENT'S AND ARTIST'S INTENTIONS
Millet used several elements within this piece as it is is ordinary he still strived to depict a piece with meaning and movement. His use of color, texture, value, symbolization, and space all helped create this great 19th century piece. His use of color and value helped with the space and texture of this painting. The pastel but lightly contrasting colors help draw the focal point to the 3 women as the background remains light, the women are wearing dark colors. All the while the use of dark thick and heavy colors on the features, help emphasize the burdensome of their work. Value was shown through the lightt and shadow of colors that can create the depiction of abundance and scarcity. Texture was created as you can see through the creasing of their clothes as they are bent over and the texture of the wheat field. You can point out the use of space from the colors and value that create depth and direction of the women to the background.
MY OPINION of ROMANTIC VS REALISM
These pieces all have such an appealing factor to them to instantly drew me to them. I like both of the styles as both have such a good intent behind them. Romanticism was an outlet to find comfort in imagination, emotion and expression. As Realism was a depiction and appreciation of ordinary life and its contents. I enjoyed knowing and finding the intentions of not only the art itself but each of the individual pieces. I don't think I'd own any of these pieces as I don't think they would deserve the appreciation they would get, rather it should be within museums and exhibits. The most I can relate to it the realism pieces as I do think I live a pretty ordinary life and art would be my way of expressing that.
References:
Harris, Beth, and Steven Zucker. “Gustave Courbet, the Painter’s Studio: A Real Allegory Summing up Seven Years of My Life as an Artist.” Gustave Courbet The Painters Studio A Real Allegory Summing Up Seven Years of My Life as an Artist, Smarthistory, 9 Aug. 2015, smarthistory.org/courbet-the-artists-studio/.
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