The rise of socialist & materialist thought
The development of socialist ideologies, particularly Marxism, influenced Realist artists to explore themes of labor & social inequality. Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels’ The Communist Manifesto (1848) critiqued capitalism & underscored class struggles, inspiring art that focused on ordinary workers. This is exemplified by Jean-François Millet’s works, such as The Gleaners (1857), which highlighted the toil & resilience of rural laborers.
A reaction against Romanticism
Romanticism, which dominated art in the late 18th & early 19th centuries, often idealized nature, emotion, & imagination. By contrast, Realism rejected this idealism, aiming to depict the world as it was — objective, unembellished, & rooted in the ordinary. The movement emerged as a response to Romanticism's detachment from the harsh realities of modern society. For example, Romantic artists like Caspar David Friedrich created dreamlike landscapes (Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, 1818), while Realist painters such as Gustave Courbet moved toward grounded & unidealized depictions of everyday people, as seen in The Stone Breakers (1849).
The influence of the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution profoundly reshaped European society by accelerating urbanization, mechanizing labor, & creating a growing working class. This shift brought new social inequalities & hardships that demanded attention. Realism arose to document & critique these social realities. For instance, Honoré Daumier’s lithographs & paintings (The Third-Class Carriage, 1862) captured the struggles of the urban proletariat with unflinching honesty, contrasting with the Romantic preference for heroic or mythical subjects.
Political uprisings across Europe in 1848 were critical in shaping Realism's social consciousness. These revolts, led by workers & reformers, aimed to confront inequality & authoritarianism. Though most were ultimately suppressed, the revolutions left a lasting impression, inspiring artists to address class struggle & economic injustice. For instance, Courbet's A Burial at Ornans (1849–50) marked a turning point as it monumentalized a rural funeral, emphasizing the dignity of common people rather than glorified religious or royal subjects.