http://www.artstyles.org/realism-painting/
How is Jean-François Millet’s The Gleaners an example of Realism Art?
I chose this painting for my European history class. We’re only supposed to take one without research or anything, but I just want to kind of know how it is connected to realism. I think it’s because it concentrates on the hardship of the poor. Would this be correct?
Yes, but I’m looking for something from the 19th century. I thought The Gleaners would be an example of people in their everyday experiences. It was famous for concerning the lowest ranks of rural society. Isn’t showing how hard they worked, a contrast between the rich and the poor?
Oops, I meant to say
Isn’t this an example of their everyday hardship, as realists of the 19th century focused on everyday life, especially on the working class and poor?
Your question was how to relate this painting to realism; not “Is it realism?” So your “Oops, I meant to say” paragraph is more to the point. Millet was one of the first artists to try to depict the hardships of everyday peasant workers instead of the nobility. He, by the way, was the greatest influence on a young Vincent VanGogh in the subject matter he ultimately chose to paint (See ‘The Potato Eaters’) That is your connection between realism and this artist.