Naturalism art is a style that let viewers explore how humanity can be seen from different angles. It strives to represent not only the ideal perception of the subject but also their real, everyday life environment. While idealistic art focused on beauty, naturalism art enables us to look closer and explore the raw, unfiltered emotions and experiences of everyday life.
What is Naturalism Art?
Naturalism art seeks to capture and portray a subject as it really is, without embellishment or exaggeration. It relies on simple, direct techniques, such as realistic colors, natural textures, and muted tones, to represent an accurate, true-to-life representation of the subject. Naturalism art can also emphasize details that go unnoticed or ignored by idealism art, such as folds in clothing or the wear of everyday life.
History of Naturalism Art
The history of naturalism art began more than two centuries ago but the movement gained prominence in the mid-1800s. It was then that Gustave Courbet and other Realists used naturalistic techniques to paint everyday scenes and landscapes. By the end of the 19th century, the style had gained in popularity, with artists like Eduard Manet, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Cezanne reaching international acclaim for their works.
Masters of Naturalism Art
Gustave Courbet is known as the father of modern naturalism and was a pioneering figure in the Realist movement. His painting ‘Burial At Ornans’ (1850) is often viewed as an iconic work of the era.
Eduard Manet is considered one of the most influential naturalism painters and is celebrated for works such as ‘Olympia’ (1863) and ‘Le Bar aux Folies-Bergère’ (1882). His works featured unusual perspectives and a mix of reality and imagination, making them one-of-a-kind.
Paul Cezanne is another well-known master of naturalism art. He is known for works like ‘Mont Sainte-Victoire’ (1886) and ‘The Basket of Apples’ (1895), which were rendered with intense scrutiny and careful attention to form and color.
Pablo Picasso is renowned for works that pushed the boundaries of traditional painting and merged styles. His ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ (1907) blended both modern and classical elements and created a new direction in painting.
Notable works of Naturalism Art
Painted between 1849 and 1854, ‘The Stone Breakers’ by Gustave Courbet is considered a masterpiece of the Realist movement. The painting features two peasants working in a quarry and shows a stark contrast between the laboring country people and their opulent surroundings.
Another defining work of naturalism art is ‘The Sower’ (1850) by Jean-Francois Millet. It is a realistic depiction of a peasant toiling on a field, depicting not only the hard labor but also the beauty of emptiness and the harvest yet to come.
Eduard Manet’s painting ‘Le Bar aux Folies-Bergere’ is a classic example of the naturalistic style. It captures the atmosphere of a bar at the turn of the 19th century with intense realism and a subdued color palette, contrasting vividly with its idealistic predecessors.
Pablo Picasso’s ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ (1907) is widely considered one of the most influential naturalism works of all time. It features a group of women lounging in a dimly lit room and features crude, angular lines and color tones that are far removed from traditional painting.
How Naturalism Art Moved Beyond Idealism
Naturalism art moved past idealism by emphasizing raw, unfiltered emotion and everyday experiences instead of the gorgeous perfection found in idealistic works. The use of vivid colors, stark lighting, and new perspectives challenged the conventions of traditional painting and allowed for even deeper exploration of the raw beauty and complexity of human life.
By pushing past the boundaries of idealism, naturalism opened the door for further interpretation of art and encouraged artists to bridge the real and abstraction. It enabled us to explore emotions and experiences that were previously unseen or ignored and challenged us to look beyond the ideal.
The Impact of Naturalism Art
Naturalism art had a profound impact on the art world, inspiring a new era of creativity and emotion. Many of the iconic works of the 19th century owe their greatness to naturalism, which pushed past conventions and explored issues of social injustice and everyday life.
Naturalism also had a great impact on subsequent art movements, such as Expressionism, Surrealism, and Neo-Expressionism, which all utilized the techniques pioneered by naturalism artists.
Naturalism art has a long and rich history and is celebrated for its contribution to the art world. It pushed beyond idealism by emphasizing the reality of human experience and opening up new perspectives on everyday life. It had an immense impact on subsequent art movements and continues to inspire artists to this day.
