Realism and Naturalism in Literature
Realism
Realism, an art movement influenced by positivism, emerged as a reaction against Romanticism. It aimed to depict reality accurately, focusing on everyday life and social issues. Key influences include:
- Positivism: Emphasizes empirical observation and experience as the basis of knowledge.
- Evolutionism: Highlights natural selection and the struggle for existence.
- Marxism: Analyzes societal structures and class struggles.
Features of Realism
- Faithful reproduction of life and society.
- Objective narration
Spanish Literary Movements: Novecento and Avant-Garde
Novecento: The Generation of 1914
Novecento opposed everything from the previous century. Key figures include Ortega y Gasset, Azaña, Marañón, and Pérez de Ayala. Also known as the Generation of 1914, coinciding with World War I. Artists were professionals (philosophers, scientists, linguists). Key features:
- Rationalism: Objective analysis and clarity, rejecting Modernist irrationalism.
- Anti-romanticism: Preference for the classic over the sentimental.
- Pure Art: Art for aesthetic pleasure, not personal
Monet & Cézanne: Impressionism to Neo-Impressionism
Impression, Sunrise
Author: Oscar Claude Monet
Date: 1872
Museum: Museum of Paris Marmottan
Features: 47 x 64 cm
Material: Oil on canvas
Style: Impressionism
In 19th-century France, the official channel for painters was the Paris Motor Show, linked to the School of Fine Arts. A prestigious jury selected the submitted works. The 1863 scandal, sparked by Manet’s Breakfast on the Grass, led to the creation of the Salon des Refusés, which gained popularity among young artists seeking to exhibit modern works.
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19th-Century Realism and Naturalism
Realism
The 19th-century Realism movement championed the accurate and truthful depiction of reality. Its key features include reflecting reality as it is, employing investigative techniques, and using the novel as a primary medium. Realism often contextualizes the work within contemporary society, utilizes an objective point of view, presents believable character actions, and critiques the prevailing social situation.
Naturalism
Naturalism, an evolution of Realism
Read MoreAnalyzing Key Art Movements Through Iconic Paintings
The Shootings of May 3rd, Goya (Early 19th Century)
Spanish Painting, Neoclassical Period with Romanticism elements.
Goya anticipates contemporary art and expressionism, depicting the horrors of war. This painting, part of a series on the war of independence against Napoleonic France, portrays the execution of Spanish rebels on May 3, 1808. It’s a powerful protest against conflict and human suffering.
Composition: Four distinct groups – the firing squad, those awaiting death, the central figure raising
Read MoreThe Vicarage: A Glimpse into 18th-Century Spanish Life
The Vicarage
1. General Documentation
Title: The Vicarage
Artist: Mariano Fortuny (1838-1874)
Date: 1867-1870
Style: Realism
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 60 cm x 94 cm
Location: National Museum of Art of Catalonia, Barcelona
Subject: Genre scene depicting the signing of a marriage contract in a church office. Fortuny meticulously details the costumes, room decor, and ambiance.
2. Formal Analysis
Plastic Elements
Fortuny’s brushwork is characterized by freedom and preciousness. The vibrant colors,
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