Realism
CURATED COLLECTIONThis collection brings together the mid nineteenth century French movement that turned painting toward ordinary, often labouring, subjects instead of history, mythology or idealised beauty. Gustave Courbet and Jean-Francois Millet painted stonebreakers, gleaners and peasant labour with a seriousness previously reserved for grander themes, provoking controversy among critics used to academic hierarchy. The movement rejected both Romantic drama and Neoclassical idealisation in favour of observed, unflattering truth, and it fed directly into the plein air practice that Impressionism would later take further. Rural and urban working life both feature prominently in the works gathered here.
About the Realism collection
Realism spans 29,389 public-domain artworks in the Archive Lane archive.
This collection brings together the mid nineteenth century French movement that turned painting toward ordinary, often labouring, subjects instead of history, mythology or idealised beauty. Gustave Courbet and Jean-Francois Millet painted stonebreakers, gleaners and peasant labour with a seriousness previously reserved for grander themes, provoking controversy among critics used to academic hierarchy. The movement rejected both Romantic drama and Neoclassical idealisation in favour of observed, unflattering truth, and it fed directly into the plein air practice that Impressionism would later take further. Rural and urban working life both feature prominently in the works gathered here.
Other collections
A few more curated collections you might like:
- Impressionist Masterpieces — 42,526 artworks
- Renaissance Treasures — 7,965 artworks
- Abstract Expressions — 6,235 artworks
- Landscapes & Nature — 58,249 artworks
- Botanical Illustrations — 18,504 artworks
Prints of these artworks
Every artwork here can be downloaded as the original high-resolution file, or ordered as a Canvas, Rolled Canvas, Framed Canvas or Framed Print from $21.99, shipping included.
Sizes and framing
Sizes are listed in inches and centimetres, with up to 26 sizes available depending on the print type, from small desk pieces up to large statement pieces. A size that doesn't match this artwork's own proportions is centred and trimmed to fit, and each print type's page states exactly how much of the image that removes.
Framed Canvas and Framed Print orders are available in 8 frame colours (Black, White, Natural, Gold, Walnut, Silver, Dark Grey, Light Grey); Canvas and Rolled Canvas have no frame and no glass.
Frequently asked questions
- How many artworks are in Realism?
- There are 29,389 public-domain artworks in the Realism collection on Archive Lane.
- Can I download these as digital files?
- Yes, every artwork can be previewed for free and downloaded as the original high-resolution file with a one-off purchase or a membership.