REALISM (1848–1900)
Arguably the first modern art movement, Realism, began in France in the 1840s. Realism was a result of multiple events: the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the rise of journalism, and the advent of photography. Each inspired new interest in accurately capturing everyday life. This attention to accuracy is evident in art produced during the movement, which featured detailed, life-like depictions of subject matter.
One of the most influential leaders of the Realist movement is Gustave Courbet, a French artist committed to painting only what he could physically see.