Social Realism Social Realism

Andrew AuquierAndrew AuquierChase PudasChase Pudas

What is Social Realism?What is Social Realism?

Realism: “a style of painting that depicts the Realism: “a style of painting that depicts the actuality of what the eyes can see”actuality of what the eyes can see”

Very popular around France in the mid to late Very popular around France in the mid to late 1800’s.1800’s.

Completely opposite to the romanticism type of Completely opposite to the romanticism type of art.art.

Truth was the goal of most realists.Truth was the goal of most realists.

What Is Social Realism?What Is Social Realism?

Social realism refers to the artist who draws Social realism refers to the artist who draws attention to the everyday conditions of the attention to the everyday conditions of the working class; the poor.working class; the poor.

This movement began in the early 20This movement began in the early 20 thth century. century. Artists would depict scenes of the average Artists would depict scenes of the average

American life as they saw it right there and then.American life as they saw it right there and then. Social realism can sometimes be considered as Social realism can sometimes be considered as

a type of propaganda, the artists would always a type of propaganda, the artists would always show the working class in a heroic manner. show the working class in a heroic manner.

Heroic Working Class Heroic Working Class

This is a painting by This is a painting by Diego Rivera.Diego Rivera.

Depicts the American Depicts the American working class as working class as heroic and hard heroic and hard working.working.

Social Realism Contents Social Realism Contents

Any piece of work is created in a realist style.Any piece of work is created in a realist style. Painted in very bold colors.Painted in very bold colors. Used as a form of propaganda.Used as a form of propaganda. Idealized a working class man.Idealized a working class man. Recorded what they saw “as it existed”.Recorded what they saw “as it existed”.

Public ReactionPublic Reaction

Social realists would also focus on the ugly Social realists would also focus on the ugly realities of contemporary life.realities of contemporary life.

They would paint scenes in an unpleasant They would paint scenes in an unpleasant manner and in such a way that people normally manner and in such a way that people normally wouldn’t like to look at, but it was reality.wouldn’t like to look at, but it was reality.

People became outraged because they did not People became outraged because they did not know how to look at it or what to even do with it.know how to look at it or what to even do with it.

Ashcan Schools Ashcan Schools

The majority of social realists were influenced by The majority of social realists were influenced by the work that has come out of the Ashcan the work that has come out of the Ashcan school.school.

The school was a small group of artists that The school was a small group of artists that documented the everyday live in “turn of the documented the everyday live in “turn of the century New York”.century New York”.

They captured the realistic moments that told They captured the realistic moments that told what happened on the urban streets.what happened on the urban streets.

Ashcan SchoolsAshcan Schools

This is a painting This is a painting created by George created by George Bellows, an artist who Bellows, an artist who was apart of the was apart of the Ashcan School.Ashcan School.

Diego Rivera Diego Rivera

Born in Guanajuato, Born in Guanajuato, Mexico in 1886.Mexico in 1886.

Paints frescos, which Paints frescos, which are murals that are are murals that are painted on fresh painted on fresh plaster. plaster.

Diego focused on the Diego focused on the workers struggle. workers struggle.

Diego And DetroitDiego And Detroit

In 1932 when the great depression was at its In 1932 when the great depression was at its peak, Rivera arrived in Detroit.peak, Rivera arrived in Detroit.

Diego painted the “American Worker” on the Diego painted the “American Worker” on the walls of the DIA. walls of the DIA.

The mural was filled with plenty of deeper The mural was filled with plenty of deeper meanings in which the had some sort of meanings in which the had some sort of representation of something. representation of something.

George Bellows (1882-1925) George Bellows (1882-1925)

Best known for his scenes of urban life, sporting Best known for his scenes of urban life, sporting events, and portraits. events, and portraits.

Attended Ohio State University (1901-1904)Attended Ohio State University (1901-1904) After Ohio State he enrolled in the New York After Ohio State he enrolled in the New York

School of Art, (Ashchan School).School of Art, (Ashchan School). Youngest member in the history of the school.Youngest member in the history of the school. Established his own studio in New York.Established his own studio in New York.

George BellowsGeorge Bellows

George would create George would create many lithographs that many lithographs that he would sell.he would sell.

Lithographs address Lithographs address many social issues.many social issues.

He would use He would use contrasts of light and contrasts of light and dark.dark.

Stag at Sharkey's 1909

Dempsey and Firpo

Blue Snow, The Battery Blue Snow, The Battery

Aaron Douglas (1899-1979)Aaron Douglas (1899-1979)

Born in Topeka, Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1899.Kansas in 1899.

Sometimes referred Sometimes referred to as the “father of to as the “father of African American art”African American art”

Attended the Attended the university of university of Nebraska. Nebraska.

Aaron Douglas Aaron Douglas

Aaron had a huge interest in the labor Aaron had a huge interest in the labor movement, he believed that the labor movement movement, he believed that the labor movement was “one of the most important aspects of negro was “one of the most important aspects of negro development”.development”.

He would try to show through his paintings the He would try to show through his paintings the importance of the African Americans in the labor importance of the African Americans in the labor movement.movement.

He would also address the struggle they had to He would also address the struggle they had to go through caused by discrimination. go through caused by discrimination.

Aaron Douglas Is On Gof The Towers - 1934

Idylls of the Deep South - 1934

Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery Through Reconstruction - 1934

Ben Shahn (1898-1969)

Born in Lithuania Moved to New York and

became a lithographer Attended New York

University and the National Academy of Design

Started with a political theme and moved to social realist based art.

Ben Shahn

Started to show the hardships in America Worked for the Farm Security

Administration (FSA) Took photographs showing the hardships

in rural areas to use for paintings

Famous work: The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti

Disagreed with the choice of the court

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)

Muralist born in Missouri

Born into a political family but chose an art lifestyle

Early in his career he focused on agrarian lifestyles but moved to post-depression art

Thomas Hart Benton

Started becoming popular in New York and Paris

Studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and transferred to Academy Julian in Paris

When Benton went to Paris he met Diego Rivera, who positively impacted his artistic style

Indiana Murals - 1933

Indiana Murals - 1933

Grant Wood (1891-1942)

Born in Iowa in 1891 Studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and

Academie Julian in Paris Known for his art depicting the depressed

farm life of the mid-west

Grant Wood

Wore overalls in many occasions Later in his career he was funded by

government art projects People described him as being a farmer

and he made connections with people living in the conditions that he portrays

American Gothic 1930

Grant Wood

Self Portrait (1932) Farmer look Same level as the

people he portrays Wanted to be

viewed as a farmer Detailed farm

scene in the back round

Self Portrait (1940) No overalls More distinguished Wanted to be

viewed as an artist Agricultural aspect

isn’t depicted as strongly

Dorothea Lange (1895-1965)

Born in New Jersey Married Maynard Dixon and had 2 children Lange started working at a photo

developing center in San Francisco In San Francisco, she opened a portrait

studio but after the Great Depression she used photography for social change

Dorothea Lange (1895-1965)

Similar to Grant wood because she worked for the farm security administration

Similar to Ben Shahn because she took pictures of the effects of the depression on the people

Dorothea Lange

Migrant Mother (1936)

One of the most known works depicting the effect of the depression

Rehabilitation Clients, Boone County, Arkansas