Romanticism V.S. Realism

Introduction

During the Romantic Era, which began in the late 1770s and ended , a multitude of different artistic and cultural movements emerged, opposed one another, overlapped, and blended together. Among others, there were Romanticism and Realism, both with a lot to say about the chaotic world around them. 

Romanticism

Romantic art was an opposing reaction to Neoclassical art. The artists that composed this movement wanted their art to be less direct and more subjective than the era before them, allowing viewers to let the works take them places emotionally, ultimately reaching a message. These strong messages ranged from political and educational to naturalistic and awe-inspiring. Whichever it was, art from this period was seen as strikingly intense and highly emotion. It often depicted atrocities, dreams, landscapes and historical events. Some of these depictions were metaphoric and fictional, some were dramatizations of real life events. Two pieces that exhibit this range are The Raft of the Medusa & The Oxbow.

The Raft of the Medusa 

The Raft of the Medusa is an over-life-sized oil on canvas painting created in 1819 by French artist, Théodore Géricault. It was originally called "Sceńe de Naufrage" or "Shipwreck Scene" in English. It was created in France for the Paris Salon. It is now at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. The painting refers to the wreck of a French Royal Navy frigate on its way to Senegal. It depicts the lifeboat built urgently in the midst of the wreck in an attempt to save all of the passengers due to a disproportionate number of prepared lifeboats. When the French government appointed an old and inexperienced captain to run the ship, the others aboard became weary of him and wanted to make the trip as fast as possible. They stuck to the coastline, and eventually hit a sandbar that wrecked the ship. The wealthy were given priority to the prepared lifeboats, while the lower class were left to construct a raft out of the sinking ship with no time to spare. Only 15 men survived through the two weeks of storms, insanity and cannibalism, and 5 of them died shortly after making it to shore. The French people were infuriated by the incompetence of the French Government in appointing the captain, and horrified by the way the lower class people on the boat were treated. The tragedy became big news and left the French people embarrassed and skeptical of their government. When this painting was shown at the Paris Salon, the art world was taken aback by the intensity, detail, and sheer size of the painting. It illustrated the mixed feelings of desperation, hope, and acceptance of the inevitable fate of death in the moments of the wreck, and renewed the feelings the people had towards the Government, furthering the theme of Romantic art as a vehicle for critical thought, education and the questioning of governments. 

The Raft of the Medusa: Elemental Approach 

The Raft of the Medusa employs many of the artistic characteristics that defined Romantic art. This is apparent in the form, where each subject is carrying out an urgent, intense motion: maintaining the makeshift ship, dragging dead bodies up from the water, coming to terms with their imminent fate, or writhing in fear and agony; the menacing waves building momentum in the background. These characteristics are also shown through in the colors and tone of the painting, where the dark palette of the ship and the sky, and deep shadows encase the disaster and create a horrifying depth. The size of the painting is probably the most reminiscent of Romanticism, as it is over twice the size of an average person at 16ft by 23ft. Creating a work of this size adds another layer of theatrics, drama, and intensity to the painting and its message. 

The Oxbow 

The Oxbow is an oil on canvas painting created in 1836 by American artist, Thomas Cole. It was created in Catskill, New York, and is now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York. Cole was the founder of the Hudson River School, which makes perfect sense after looking at this painting and seeing the evident Romantic approach. The painting depicts the view from Mount Holyoke in North Hampton, Massachusetts, a view destined to become on of those renowned Romantic landscapes. These awe-inspiring landscapes were inspired by an appreciation of the mystery, promise and wonder that lied within nature, and the uniqueness embodied in the grande scenery. These pieces inspire adventure and respect for nature, but they also had a message to convey. The Oxbow shows an extreme contrast between lush, untouched foliage on the left, and barer land marked with paths and logging scars on the right. 

The Oxbow: Elemental Approach 

The Oxbow shows how Romanticism can maintain its intensity and elicit emotions while creating less of a nightmare, and more of a dream. The texture of the painting shows the mist and remainder of a passing thunderstorm in blurred, yet intentional strokes, trailed by dense, heavenly clouds. The texture of the trees is swaying and unified in the same instance, and leaves the reality of the woods to the imagination. This detail leaves viewers with the catharsis of a nearly-passed storm and the promise of a beautiful, abundant day. The colors in the painting highlight the intense, lush green of the foliage on the left, and the golden yellow of the right side. The scale of the painting shows the point of view from a high, open place and exhibits the extraordinary vastness of the scenery. It elicits an adventurous wonderment and curiosity. 

Realism 

Realism was an opposing reaction to Romanticism, and is considered the starting point of modern art. Realism artists wanted to represent the middle-class, to earn them a seat at the table in democratic reform after a wave of revolutions and overturned governments swept across Europe in 1848. They sought out to show a truthful, accurate, non-idealized and undramatic image of their current society, creating paintings of the everyday lives of farmers, workers, peasants and the impoverished. They didn't seek to glorify, they only wanted their lifestyles to be normalized and respected, and recognized as an important part of history. This came after the Enlightenment brought the materialistic and shallow values of the bourgeoisie into questions. People began to value intellect, art, modesty and nature over fancy dresses, golden vases and exclusive art. This shift in values and desire to advocate and achieve democracy are apparent in both The Shepherdess & A Hind's Daughter.

The Shepherdess 

The Shepherdess is an oil on canvas painting created in 1889 by French artist, William-Adolphe Bouguereau. It was initially created in France, and resides at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The painting depicts a young woman in peasant attire, barefoot and holding a crook on her shoulders. She is standing in an ordinary pastoral setting, with cattle grazing behind her. The way she is dressed clearly indicates her middle-class status, but the look on her face and the position of her body insists comfort, fulfillment and honor. Her feet are pointed in a poised manner, and she holds the crook over her shoulders with confidence and ease. The crook also asserts her position as a Shepherdess, contributing masterfully to a necessary labor. Her body is not godly or distorted, it is average and sturdy. This panting does not condemn or cast pity on the lifestyle of the Shepherdess, it is representative and observation. It also portrays the ways women contributed to what was seen at the time as men's work.

The Shepherdess: Elemental Approach

Realism is characterized by it's accuracy, natural form, earthy colors, ordinary expressions and scenarios. The Shepherdess illustrates this approach and intention. The colors in the painting are neutral, soft and natural, representing a typical countryside. The form of the subject and the facial expression is honest, confident yet modest, and suggests a contentment with the lifestyle. The painting creates a homely feeling of warmth and simplicity, as if you had just gotten off of work and stopped to appreciate your contribution and surroundings. 

A Hind's Daughter

A Hind's Daughter is an oil on canvas painting created in 1883 by Scottish artist, Sir James Guthrie. It was created in Cockburnspath, Scotland and is currently at the Scottish National Gallery. The painting shows a young girl helping with garden work, holding a knife and looking up at the artist. She is standing in a regular Scottish farm scene with a small house in the background, complete with weeds, dead leaves and barren trees in the garden. The sky is unremarkable and overcast, and she is wearing an outfit that is youthful but plain, and looks to be homemade. She is picking cabbage, a staple in the diet of the Scottish middle-class. This painting illustrates another example of a middle-class reality. The girl's expression and grip on the knife is familiar and hardworking yet youthful. The artist seems to have captured a moment out of a daily routine.

A Hind's Daughter: Elemental Approach

Elementally, this painting is similar The Shepherdess in a lot of ways. They both have a natural, earthy color palette, A Hind's Daughter being slightly more somber, but not overwhelmingly so.  There is a distinct sense of honor in the facial expression and pose, there doesn't seem to be embarrassment or shyness about their state. There is also a familiarity in the bleary strokes in this painting, specifically on the cabbage, trees, leaves, weeds and in the sky. It is reminiscent of someone painting a picture of their childhood backyard from memory. It gives the painting warmth and relatability. 

Differences and Similarities Between Romanticism & Realism 

Romanticism is much more reliant on employing intensity, emotions, and theatrics to send a message, or shock and educate viewers. It can also be metaphorical and dramatized. Realism also sends a message, but is less calculated: accurate representation of a class that is often looked down upon. The message presents itself through the natural state of the scene. Realism allows the subjects to speak for themselves. 

Romanticism also seems to reflect a broader analysis of societies issues, whereas Realism has a very specific issue at the forefront. For example, The Raft of the Medusa doesn't represent a singular idea or experience. Instead, it calls on what that specific issue depicted represents to the people as a group. In this case, the artists was representing the failure of the government, and the following embarrassment and distrust. Embarrassment and distrust in the government can go in a multitude of directions and come from any number of experiences. Alternatively, A Hind's Daughter represents the daughter of middle-class farm laborer working in a field and collecting cabbage. It seems to have a more obvious story and less mystery or subjectivity, it tells you exactly what it means. 

Elemental Differences and Similarities Between Romanticism & Realism 

Romantic art used dramatized and highly expressive form to elicit emotions, while Realism showed real men and women in positions and poses that they would probably find themselves in of their own accord on the day-to-day, activities local to farmers, peasants, shepherds and the poor, such as the casual pose of the shepherdess in Bouguereau's painting. Romantic art used a broader range of colors, and starker colors contrasts that expressed intensity in emotions and events. They also used tone to create depth and a sense of vastness, especially in landscapes, like The Oxbow's never ending horizon and rolling hills that add to the drawing mystery of the painting. Realism was more earthly and true to life, with an  'as-is" feel. In many Romanticism paintings, the subjects are carrying out an urgent or intense metaphoric motion, like the passengers of the Medusa dragging the dead bodies onto the boat. Realism subjects are not as often in motion. They are still and most of the expression comes from more subliminal aspects like their surroundings, clothing and body language. Realism is more straightforward and less urgent. 

Emotions & Aesthetic

Each painting I chose appeals to me in some way, but I do prefer Realism. I like the aesthetic of Romantic paintings like The Raft of the Medusa: the color, the drama, the intensity, the form and the scenery. They bring up a lot of intensity and fierceness about my own relationship with politics. It is obvious that each piece is calculated and imbedded with endless symbolism and metaphor, but Romantic paintings are often overwhelming for me to look at. I do enjoy the natural end of Romanticism and its colors and vastness, but paintings like The Oxbow are missing the human aspect for me. 

More so, I enjoy the brutal realness of Realism paintings. Paintings like A Hind's Daughter feel familiar and homely, and also addresses a lot of the issues that really resonate with me about classism, poverty, democracy and judgements based around materialism. Realism paintings feel like something that needs to be said, and was ignored by the art world for too long. I appreciate the representation of woman, such as the young woman in The Shepherdess, as contributors to labor that possess strength and skill. I also love the earthy colors and the ordinary brilliance of the subject. I am very appreciative of farm and country scenery, and Realism is dense with it. Most importantly, since Realism was the start of modern art, it created a precedent around representation. This would result in crucial art such as Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange. 

Conclusion

With all things considered, and although I personally enjoy Realism art more, Romanticism led to Realism, and Realism was the start of modern art. The beauty, drama, reality, and agenda in these movements were all necessary in the progression of art up to this point!

Works Cited 

“MoMA Learning.” MoMA, www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/dorothea-lange-migrant-mother-nipomo-california-1936/. 

“Striking Women.” 19th And Early 20th Century | Striking Women, www.striking-women.org/module/women-and-work/19th-and-early-20th-century. 

 “Enlightenment.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Dec. 2009, www.history.com/topics/british-history/enlightenment. 

"Thomas Cole." www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10497. 

“The Shepherdess.” The Shepherdess by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, www.williambouguereau.org/shepherdess/. 

"A Hind's Daughter." www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/5001/hinds-daughter. 

“The Raft of the Medusa.” The Raft of the Medusa | Louvre Museum | Paris, www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/raft-medusa.