By Elizabeth H. Elys. According the ancient philosopher
Plato, Art was imitation of Nature, but in the 19th century Art took a
different function. Art in visual form such as painting or sculpture has
an emotional power. Artists reacted to social movements in society. Britain's
Industrial Revolution aroused concern for the urban poor, and in the 1870s the
work of artists were widely reproduced in The Graphic. The misery, injustice
and cruelty of life were portrayed in art work of famous painters.
The artists were united in their attack
on the status quo and social power structure. They focused on human figure and
human condition and we call this movement Social Realism. Social Realists build
on the legacies of Honore Daumier, Gustave Courbert and Francisco Goya and
their radical social critique.
Social Realism developed as a
reaction against idealism, to see a reality of life with a new sense of social
consciousness. They focused on the ugly realities of contemporary life
and sympathized with working class people, particularly the poor.
Social realism should be seen as an
international Phenomenon. The Mexican Revolution in 1910 Mexican artist
inspired and influenced artists around the World. The bravery and fight, spirit
and pride, struggle for freedom is seen in fabulous works of Diego Rivera,
Orozco, Sigueiros. Freda Kahlo wife of Diego Rivera also was involved in social
movements with her painting.
These muralists encouraged social
realism in other Latin American country from Ecuador [Oswaldo Guayasamin ] to
Brazil [Candido Portinari].
Social realism in the US was
inspired by these great Latin-American artists. During the 1920s, American
artists searched importance within society. The presence of Mexican muralists
especially Diego Rivera had a big impact on art and served as inspiration the
emerging artists. Later with effect of the Great Depression of 1929, lots of
artists were struggling to survive.
A very large and diverse group
of artists also called Social Realist joined together to publish magazines, organize
unions, convene artist's congresses and publicly agitate for the importance of
their revolutionary work, the role of the artist within society, and
radical anti-capitalistic change for America.
In Russia Social Realism [Peredvizhniky]
was critical of social environment that caused the conditions pictured and
denounced the "Evil" Tsarists period. Ilya Repin. A Russian
Artist said his art work was
aimed" to criticize all the monstrosities of our vile Society of the
Tsarist period. Similar concern was addressed in the 20th century Britain by
the Artists International Association and Mass Observation.
The Social
realistic style fell out of fashion in the 1960, but is still influential in
thinking today. We have so many issues to fight for! The artist’s work that
discusses remains vital today in movements demanding fuller democratic rights
and social justice for people, women, ethnic communities, immigrants and sexual
minorities.
Contemporary
artists’ picture and question war express outrage and empathize with suffering
of others. Artists in their work making a statement against war, the abuse of
power and disagree what is going on. The war paintings are certainly a
protest because it was done with indignation. Artists react to tragic
events, they protest by way their painting using visual art as a means to
provoke personal transformations and question social revolution and justice.
Art is A
Freedom of Expression and artist post to fight artistically for al above
mentioned
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