The third and final art form born from the Industrial Revolution was Realism. Realism depicted what life was actually like for people living during th 18th and 19th centuries. Realism art was honest and truthful about the difficulties of life. Unlike Romanticism and Impressionism which depicted nature, light, texture, and joy, Realism showed life as dark and dreary and painful as it was in that time. Industrialization had many negative outcomes that influenced the Realism era. Family structures began to breakdown, living and working conditions were far below average, and morals were changing. Cities were overpopulated, sickness spread quickly, and pollution filled the air. There were no bright colors, relaxing afternoons, or heroic characters like Romantic and Impressionist art suggested. Realism is a glimpse into the truth of the times. Literature, visual arts, and theater all reflected the hardships that came with the urbanization and development of technology.
One example of realism is the painting "Bonjour, Monsieur Courbet" by Gustave Courbet. This painting depicts a wandering man approaching two upper class gentlemen on the street. This painting clearly shows the segregation of classes at this time.
The man on the right is said to by the painter Courbet himself. Courbet is walking the streets alone and comes across the two well dressed men. The man on the far right looks down, not making eye contact with Courbet at all. This says a lot about personal interactions between people of different classes. The people are drawn realistically and more lifelike. There is nothing abstract about the colors or the texture of the paining. Real emotions are seen on the faces of the men and it reflects the social separation of the time.
Another example of Realism is "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo. This novel takes place in France during a time of civil unrest. Life is depicted in the novel just as it was for many people: dark, dreary and hopeless. The novel specifically focuses on the hard lives of beggars, prisoners, prostitutes, factory workers, thieves, law enforcers, children, students, and even the upper class. The novel was later adapted into a theatrical production in which only four of the ten characters are not dead by the end of the show. This number is a clear representation of the hardships, struggles, and despair of the times. Victor Hugo’s use of Realism is both impactful and illustrative of the lives of so many people in France following the Industrial Revolution.