Realism movement

Realism movement

Introduction

Arts play an essential role in describing the cultures of individuals. The differences can become adequately defined by the use or techniques to convey specific messages. Therefore, art assists in displaying the cultural components of people, thereby capturing their social elements. Realism focuses on an era, (the 1840s-1180s) in France, which became characterized by a transition from the traditional norms to the contemporary forms. As a result, the conventional presentation of art that was in the way of paintings and images undertook real-life events turn. In this paper, the focus will be on the aspects of the movement, including the built environment. Consideration will also occur regarding theories and philosophies and the movements’ relationship towards the culture and society.

Discussion

Socio-political and environmental aspects of the era

Ideally, before realism, the administrative structures became enacted by traditional systems. An example of the political form of government was a monarchy. Therefore, civilians had a limited say concerning the reign that controlled all the activities. In the event of realism, the different forms of art that became incorporated enabled civilians to identify the militant rule and start revolutions for their removal. Thus, in a way, the political structures got managed effectively in the era to accommodate the views of all citizens in the various political arenas ((McQueen, 2018).

An example is the Rue Transnonain image that was evident in 1834. The era also incorporated emotions with the different activities that were present among the civilians. A case was unemployment and forced labor, conduct that was enacted in the traditional structures. Ideally, the customary rulers failed to understand the difficulties that subjects underwent following the various tasks. Thus, incorporating this aspect by the use of images facilitated the understanding of the social injustices received by workers. One illustration is the Stone Breakers (1849-1850) that outlined the hardship conditions of the workers. 

The image depicted the employees as having tattered clothes and weathered hands. Therefore, the image represented the painful occurrences, upon which the modern constructions became upheld (Lánczi, 2015). A different social view gets presented in the image termed Symphony in White. The photo depicted the stealing of the young girls’ innocence in the society that became viewed as inconsiderate to human life. Thus, traditionally, the women were believed to originate from a weaker gender, hence became subdued. 

However, from a realistic view, it represented the illnesses present in society. In defining the environment, the images expressed the hope that things would change regarding unfavorable governance. An example is the Song of the Lark in 1884 ((McQueen, 2018). The rising of the sun depicted the promise of a newer environment regardless of the subjections. In a way, it also described reconstruction and the belief of a transition into a free and more accommodative era. 

The built environment of realism era

As previously described, realism focused on a transition towards better schemes with the aspect of modernization. Thus, the building and architectural designs became schemed into the modern-day component. Such became evident through adopted mediums like enhancing the quality of materials used in construction. For instance, materials such as stonework and bricks became adopted, as opposed to the previous resources. Additional elements also became incorporated in designing the outside look of the structures (Bullivant, 2014).

For example, builders adopted the use of proper finishing like eaves, and door handles that were modernized and would stay longer regarding durability. Moreover, they opted for simpler designs that enacted an eased meaning among the dwellers. As a result, the modern buildings appeared in every town in England, a depiction of transition from the customary structures. The buildings also portrayed religious meanings following the designs by the architects, an example being the Pugin building (Clark, 2014).

One essential proprietor of structural realism is Wagner Otto, who incorporated technology with structural rationalism. An example of his work is the postal savings bank. The building became constructed with upgraded concrete. Moreover, it became characterized by marble plates, ornaments, and aluminum cap. Wagner opted to incorporate modernism and leaving out traditional modes of construction in establishing architectural designs.

Theories and philosophies of realism

A primary method during the era was modernism. The underlying reason was the movement from the traditional into the modern culture. Therefore, all the activities became geared towards attaining structures and systems that embraced contemporary civilizations. Other philosophies included communism and fascism alongside liberalism and nationalism. Therefore, the realist believed that individuals worked together to attain their needs, thus the incorporation of unity in various aspects (Koutsourakis, 2016). The approaches thus enabled the enactment of a wave of change from customary to modern cultures. 

Relationship of the movement towards culture and society

Realism prompted the enactment of newer cultures that enabled individuals to identify previous gaps for effective management. Thus, politically, it shed the oppressive traditional administration and incorporated modernization, which enabled the exercise of freedoms. People also managed to effectively raise concerns that affected their livelihoods, thereby allowing to equity and justice in operations (Clark, 2014). In architecture, the movement facilitated the construction of contemporary buildings that depicted arts mediums like culture and religion. Thus, it formed a focal point of transition and enactment into the modern construction mediums. 

Conclusion

The realism movement facilitated the enactment of newer schemes regarding political, social, and environmental factors. However, architecture also became improved by the transition from customary to modern approaches, as depicted in the works of Wagner. Ideally, the movement also helped in identifying the ills of the monarchy rule and enabled individuals to voice opinions. Therefore, as opposed to actions like romanticism, realism exposed the world into newer aspects that aided in full development.