Lovian Museum for Modern Art/Courbet Hall - Realism

The Courbet Hall is the second hall of the Lovian Museum for Modern Art in Newhaven. The realism collection is based in this hall, named after Gustave Courbet.

Realism
Realism is a style of painting that depicts the actuality of what the eyes can see. Realists render everyday characters, situations, dilemmas, and objects, all in verisimilitude. They tend to discard theatrical drama, lofty subjects and classical forms in favor of commonplace themes. Gustave Courbet, the painter who this room is named after, is credited with coining the term.

Realism refers to the mid-19th century cultural movement with its roots in France, where it was a very popular art form around the mid to late 1800s. It came about with the introduction of photography - a new visual source that created a desire for people to produce things that look “objectively real”. Realism was heavily against romanticism. Undistorted by personal bias, Realism believed in the ideology of objective reality and revolted against exaggerated emotionalism. Truth and accuracy became the goals of many Realists.

Reactions from the visitors
"Oh dear! This is just great! I'm glad to be the monarch of a country with such an artistic collection."

15:50, 16 December 2007 (UTC) "I never knew of but one artist, and that's Tom Eakins, who could resist the temptation to see what they think ought to be rather than what is."

Lars Washington February 7, 2007