Realism

The Barbizon School is known for being one of the exponents of Realism. Even thought they were inspired by Romanticism's search for solace in nature, the Barbizons distanced themselves from this movement's ideals. Regarding this fact, which of the following statements are TRUE about the Barbizon School?

• Turned away from the melodramatic picturesqueness of established Romantic landscape painters

• Used landscapes merely as a backdrop for allegory and historical narrative

• Emphasized permanent features, painting solid, detailed forms in a limited range of colours

• They were also concerned with mood, altering physical appearances to express what they saw as the objective “character” of the landscape

What are some characteristics of artists that belonged to the Barbizon School?

• Applying wet paint onto wet paint

• Completing a canvas in a single sitting

• Concentrating on the effects of light on the landscape

• Looser brushstrokes and a freer style than what was traditional in Academic painting

About some of the Barbizon School's artists, which statements are correct?

• Rousseau’s vision was melancholy, concentrating on vast sweeps of landscape and looming trees

• Dupré’s close-range, detailed scenes are suffused with foreboding

• Daubigny didn't favour scenes of lush and verdant fields

• Diaz painted sun-dappled forest interiors

• Troyon and Jacque refused to paint placid scenes that featured livestock

Select artworks done by artists that belonged to the Barbizon School.

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Jean-François Millet

• 's principal concern were peasant subjects

• Periodically faced the charge of being a socialist

• Fundamentally approached his subjects in a more classical sense, not as form of protest

• Was influenced by both Neoclassicism and Naturalism

Camille Corot

• Had peasants as his main subjects

• Favoured a naturalistic treatment of the landscape, depicting its details precisely, rather than the idealising treatment of nature favoured by Neoclassicism

• Had his own multifaceted approach, resulting in simple landscapes, but also figurative painting, and genre work

• Was influenced by both Neoclassicism and Naturalism

Which statements are TRUE about Gustave Courbet?

• Did not glorify his peasants but presented them boldly and starkly, which created a violent reaction in the art world

• Was strongly opposed to idealisation in his art, and he urged other artists to instead make the commonplace and contemporary the focus of their art

• Rebelled against the Romantic painting of his day, turning to everyday events for his subject matter

• Was influenced by both Neoclassicism and Naturalism

• Drew sharp criticism to the establishment

Which statements are TRUE about Honoré Daumier?

• Did not glorify his peasants but presented them boldly and starkly, which created a violent reaction in the art world

• Found his working-class heroes and heroines and his villainous lawyers and politicians in the slums and streets of Paris

• Used energetic linear style, boldly accentuated realistic detail, and an almost sculptural treatment of form

• Publishing caricatures critical of the monarchy

• Drew satirical caricatures of French society and politics

Select examples of Jean-François Millet's artworks.

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Select examples of Camille Corot's artworks.

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