Realism Summary Handout

The handout I created for Leaving Certificate Art students studying Realism provides a structured overview of the Realist movement in Europe, focusing on three key artists: Jean-François Millet, Gustave Courbet, and Édouard Manet. It starts with a brief introduction to Realism as a movement that emerged in response to Romanticism, highlighting its emphasis on depicting everyday life and ordinary people without idealisation.

Each artist is then presented with the following:

• Context of their work: A summary of the social, cultural, and personal influences that shaped their art.
• Art and design principles: Key features of their artistic style, such as composition, use of light and colour, brushwork, and how they approached realism in their subjects.

The handout also includes key takeaways about the Realist movement, explaining its focus on ordinary life, rejection of Romanticism, and its influence on later artistic movements. It concludes with a section of recommended paintings by each artist, encouraging students to study specific works like Millet’s The Gleaners, Courbet’s The Stone Breakers, and Manet’s Olympia to better understand the characteristics of Realism.

The overall structure is clear and easy to follow, designed to give students a concise yet comprehensive understanding of the Realist movement, its artists, and its historical significance.