Definition & Meaning of "realism"

What is "realism"?

Realism was a literary and artistic movement that began in the mid-19th century, focusing on reflecting life as it truly is, without exaggeration or making it seem better than it is. In literature, writers like Gustave Flaubert and Henry James aimed to show everyday life and ordinary people with accurate detail, emphasizing the struggles and challenges of real life. In art, painters like Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painted scenes from everyday life, often showing the harsh realities of labor and poverty. Realism aimed to give a truthful representation of the world, focusing on accurate details and avoiding representations that make things seem more appealing or dramatic than they really are. The movement emphasized a more straightforward and honest view of life, reflecting the social and economic conditions of the time.