1. Social RealismSocial Realism
Andrew AuquierAndrew Auquier
Chase PudasChase Pudas

2. What is Social Realism?What is Social Realism?
 Realism: “a style of painting that depicts theRealism: “a style of painting that depicts the
actuality of what the eyes can see”actuality of what the eyes can see”
 Very popular around France in the mid to lateVery popular around France in the mid to late
1800’s.1800’s.
 Completely opposite to the romanticism type ofCompletely opposite to the romanticism type of
art.art.
 Truth was the goal of most realists.Truth was the goal of most realists.

3. What Is Social Realism?What Is Social Realism?
 Social realism refers to the artist who drawsSocial realism refers to the artist who draws
attention to the everyday conditions of theattention to the everyday conditions of the
working class; the poor.working class; the poor.
 This movement began in the early 20This movement began in the early 20thth
century.century.
 Artists would depict scenes of the averageArtists would depict scenes of the average
American life as they saw it right there and then.American life as they saw it right there and then.
 Social realism can sometimes be considered asSocial realism can sometimes be considered as
a type of propaganda, the artists would alwaysa type of propaganda, the artists would always
show the working class in a heroic manner.show the working class in a heroic manner.

4. Heroic Working ClassHeroic Working Class
 This is a painting byThis is a painting by
Diego Rivera.Diego Rivera.
 Depicts the AmericanDepicts the American
working class asworking class as
heroic and hardheroic and hard
working.working.

5. Social Realism ContentsSocial Realism Contents
 Any piece of work is created in a realist style.Any piece of work is created in a realist style.
 Painted in very bold colors.Painted in very bold colors.
 Used as a form of propaganda.Used as a form of propaganda.
 Idealized a working class man.Idealized a working class man.
 Recorded what they saw “as it existed”.Recorded what they saw “as it existed”.

6. Public ReactionPublic Reaction
 Social realists would also focus on the uglySocial realists would also focus on the ugly
realities of contemporary life.realities of contemporary life.
 They would paint scenes in an unpleasantThey would paint scenes in an unpleasant
manner and in such a way that people normallymanner and in such a way that people normally
wouldn’t like to look at, but it was reality.wouldn’t like to look at, but it was reality.
 People became outraged because they did notPeople became outraged because they did not
know how to look at it or what to even do with it.know how to look at it or what to even do with it.

7. Ashcan SchoolsAshcan Schools
 The majority of social realists were influenced byThe majority of social realists were influenced by
the work that has come out of the Ashcanthe work that has come out of the Ashcan
school.school.
 The school was a small group of artists thatThe school was a small group of artists that
documented the everyday live in “turn of thedocumented the everyday live in “turn of the
century New York”.century New York”.
 They captured the realistic moments that toldThey captured the realistic moments that told
what happened on the urban streets.what happened on the urban streets.

8. Ashcan SchoolsAshcan Schools
 This is a paintingThis is a painting
created by Georgecreated by George
Bellows, an artist whoBellows, an artist who
was apart of thewas apart of the
Ashcan School.Ashcan School.

9. Diego RiveraDiego Rivera
 Born in Guanajuato,Born in Guanajuato,
Mexico in 1886.Mexico in 1886.
 Paints frescos, whichPaints frescos, which
are murals that areare murals that are
painted on freshpainted on fresh
plaster.plaster.
 Diego focused on theDiego focused on the
workers struggle.workers struggle.

10. Diego And DetroitDiego And Detroit
 In 1932 when the great depression was at itsIn 1932 when the great depression was at its
peak, Rivera arrived in Detroit.peak, Rivera arrived in Detroit.
 Diego painted the “American Worker” on theDiego painted the “American Worker” on the
walls of the DIA.walls of the DIA.
 The mural was filled with plenty of deeperThe mural was filled with plenty of deeper
meanings in which the had some sort ofmeanings in which the had some sort of
representation of something.representation of something.

15. George Bellows (1882-1925)George Bellows (1882-1925)
 Best known for his scenes of urban life, sportingBest known for his scenes of urban life, sporting
events, and portraits.events, and portraits.
 Attended Ohio State University (1901-1904)Attended Ohio State University (1901-1904)
 After Ohio State he enrolled in the New YorkAfter Ohio State he enrolled in the New York
School of Art, (Ashchan School).School of Art, (Ashchan School).
 Youngest member in the history of the school.Youngest member in the history of the school.
 Established his own studio in New York.Established his own studio in New York.

16. George BellowsGeorge Bellows
 George would createGeorge would create
many lithographs thatmany lithographs that
he would sell.he would sell.
 Lithographs addressLithographs address
many social issues.many social issues.
 He would useHe would use
contrasts of light andcontrasts of light and
dark.dark.
Stag at Sharkey's 1909

17. Dempsey and Firpo

19. Blue Snow, The BatteryBlue Snow, The Battery

20. Aaron Douglas (1899-1979)Aaron Douglas (1899-1979)
 Born in Topeka,Born in Topeka,
Kansas in 1899.Kansas in 1899.
 Sometimes referredSometimes referred
to as the “father ofto as the “father of
African American art”African American art”
 Attended theAttended the
university ofuniversity of
Nebraska.Nebraska.

21. Aaron DouglasAaron Douglas
 Aaron had a huge interest in the laborAaron had a huge interest in the labor
movement, he believed that the labor movementmovement, he believed that the labor movement
was “one of the most important aspects of negrowas “one of the most important aspects of negro
development”.development”.
 He would try to show through his paintings theHe would try to show through his paintings the
importance of the African Americans in the laborimportance of the African Americans in the labor
movement.movement.
 He would also address the struggle they had toHe would also address the struggle they had to
go through caused by discrimination.go through caused by discrimination.

22. Aaron Douglas Is On Gof The Towers - 1934

23. Idylls of the Deep South - 1934

24. Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery Through
Reconstruction - 1934

25. Ben Shahn (1898-1969)
 Born in Lithuania
 Moved to New York and
became a lithographer
 Attended New York
University and the
National Academy of
Design
 Started with a political
theme and moved to
social realist based art.

26. Ben Shahn
 Started to show the hardships in America
 Worked for the Farm Security
Administration (FSA)
 Took photographs showing the hardships
in rural areas to use for paintings

27.  Famous work: The
Passion of Sacco and
Vanzetti
 Disagreed with the
choice of the court

28. Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
 Muralist born in
Missouri
 Born into a political
family but chose an
art lifestyle
 Early in his career he
focused on agrarian
lifestyles but moved
to post-depression art

29. Thomas Hart Benton
 Started becoming popular in New York
and Paris
 Studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and
transferred to Academy Julian in Paris
 When Benton went to Paris he met Diego
Rivera, who positively impacted his artistic
style

30. Indiana Murals - 1933

31. Indiana Murals - 1933

32. Grant Wood (1891-1942)
 Born in Iowa in 1891
 Studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and
Academie Julian in Paris
 Known for his art depicting the depressed
farm life of the mid-west

33. Grant Wood
 Wore overalls in many occasions
 Later in his career he was funded by
government art projects
 People described him as being a farmer
and he made connections with people
living in the conditions that he portrays

34. American Gothic 1930

35. Grant Wood
 Self Portrait (1932)
 Farmer look
 Same level as the
people he portrays
 Wanted to be
viewed as a farmer
 Detailed farm
scene in the back
round
 Self Portrait (1940)
 No overalls
 More distinguished
 Wanted to be
viewed as an artist
 Agricultural aspect
isn’t depicted as
strongly

37. Dorothea Lange (1895-1965)
 Born in New Jersey
 Married Maynard Dixon and had 2 children
 Lange started working at a photo
developing center in San Francisco
 In San Francisco, she opened a portrait
studio but after the Great Depression she
used photography for social change

38. Dorothea Lange (1895-1965)
 Similar to Grant wood
because she worked
for the farm security
administration
 Similar to Ben Shahn
because she took
pictures of the effects
of the depression on
the people

39. Dorothea Lange
 Migrant Mother
(1936)
 One of the most
known works
depicting the effect of
the depression

40. Rehabilitation Clients, Boone County, Arkansas