Realism in the arts may be generally defined as the attempt to
represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality, and
avoiding artistic conventions, implausible, exotic and
supernatural elements. In its most specific sense, Realism was
an artistic movement that began in France in the 1850s, after
the 1848 Revolution. Realists rejected Romanticism, which had
dominated French literature and art since the late 18th century.
Realism revolted against the exotic subject matter and
exaggerated emotionalism and drama of the Romantic movement.
Instead it sought to portray real and typical contemporary
people and situations with truth and accuracy, and not avoiding
unpleasant or sordid aspects of life. Realist works depicted
people of all classes in situations that arise in ordinary life,
and often reflected the changes wrought by the Industrial and
Commercial Revolutions. The popularity of such 'realistic' works
grew with the introduction of photography — a new visual source
that created a desire for people t