Art History (Lesson 30/1): Realism/Jean-Francois Millet,Honoré Daumier

Art History (Lesson 30/1): Realism/Jean-Francois Millet,Honoré Daumier :

The Realist movement emerged in France in the mid-19th century, as a reaction against the outdated strictures of academic art. Spearheaded by Gustave Courbet and Jean- Francois Millet, it signalled a definitive break from the artistic traditions of the past.

Origins and influences:
In the late 1840s, a circle of writers, artists, and intellectuals held regular meetings at a Parisian bar, the Brasserie Andler. The group's heated discussions covered a broad range of subjects, from radical politics and social issues to the latest artistic trends. They dubbed their meeting place the “Temple of Realism; and it was this nickname which Courbet adopted for his art. Although they appear anything but revolutionary today, the paintings of Courbet provoked a storm of protest at the Salon — the state-sponsored exhibition in Paris — largely because they contravened normal academic practice. Scenes of rural life were expected to be small and picturesque, providing town-dwellers with a sense of escapism. The peasant pictures of Courbet and Millet, however, were large, on a scale that was normally reserved for major historical themes or religious subjects. Worse still, they focused on the hardship of modern working conditions, a topic that smacked dangerously of socialist politics to conservative critics. The Realists attracted equal scorn for their figures. Courbet's nudes had double chins and rolls of fat, while Honoré Daumier's workers were wizened caricatures. For critics accustomed to the idealized forms of academic art, this was not realism, but a deliberate quest for ugliness. Realism proved influential, not just for the style itself, but for the way that Courbet promoted it. His “Pavilion of Realism” at the World Fair of 1855 was a show of artistic independence, and a model for the later Impressionist exhibitions (see pp.340-41).

Jean-Francois Millet:
Inspired by his observations of life on the land in his native Normandy, Jean-Francois Millet painted mainly rural scenes. His paintings were admired by Realist artists and the young Vincent van Gogh. Having trained in Cherbourg and Paris, Millet spent his early career as a historical and portrait painter, achieving modest success. However, after the 1848 Revolution and his move to the village of Barbizon, in the forest of Fontainebleau, he wanted to give his painting the social and political significance he admired in Daumier’s work. He struggled financially for much of his career (he had a large family to support), but by the end of his life he was achieving recognition and honours (he was made a member of the Legion of Honour in 1868). After his death
his paintings became enormously popular.

Honoré Daumier:
The satirical cartoons and caricatures that made Honoré Daumier famous in his own lifetime somewhat eclipsed his paintings and sculptures. These are now recognized both as fine examples of the Realist genre, and as pioneering the techniques of Impressionism. In 1816, Daumier's father made a disastrous move to Paris, and young Honoré was forced to find work. After a number of menial jobs, which shaped his left-wing politics, he learnt the techniques of lithography, and he started to contribute cartoons to the journal La Caricature. For most of his life, Daumier struggled to make a living. He was admired by many fellow artists, including Corot, Degas, and Delacroix, but died in poverty.