Realism as a movement in art developed in the early 19th century as a reaction to the idealized and stylized art of the previous centuries. Realist artists sought to depict the world as it actually is, rather than how it could or should be. They believed that art should be accessible to all people, and not just the elite.
Realists sought to capture the everyday lives of ordinary people in their works. The Industrial Revolution and the rise of the middle class in the 19th century were major influences on the development of realism in art.
Realist artists sought to show the world as it was, without embellishment or idealization. The rise of photography in the 19th century also influenced the development of realism in art, as it provided a new way of seeing and documenting the world.
Realist artists often used new techniques and materials, such as the use of light and shadow, to create their works. Realism in art was not just about the subject matter, but also about how that subject matter was depicted—through lines and shading that represented objects accurately but created an illusion nonetheless. This helped make realism more accessible than other forms of painting at that time because it didn’t require any special training or equipment; anyone could appreciate what they saw on canvas
