In-depth Notes on 19th Century French Art and Key Artists

Overview of French Art: Nineteenth Century

  • French art during the 19th century was characterized by overlapping movements, primarily Romanticism and Realism.

  • Key figures from both movements include:

    • Delacroix: An essential Romantic painter active until 1863.

    • Honoré Daumier: Noted for his lithographs and satirical commentary on society.

    • Influence of Neoclassicism: Felt through the 1860s, primarily through artists like Anger.

Lithography and Its Impact

  • Lithography: A printmaking technique that uses a greasy medium on a porous surface (traditionally Bavarian limestone), allowing artists to create multiple prints from a single design.

    • The mutual repulsion of grease and water is key to the technique.

    • This process revolutionized the proliferation of printed images, paving the way for a mass popular press.

  • Daumier's Contribution:

    • Recognized for his critique of social issues through lithographs, especially politically charged imagery affecting government figures.

    • Despite being primarily popular art, his work possessed great artistic merit.

Notable Works by Daumier

  • "Freedom of the Press" (1834):

    • Illustrates the struggle for freedom of expression with a heroic typographer figure.

    • Political targets represented include King Charles X.

  • "Rue Transnonain, April 15, 1834":

    • A powerful lithograph depicting the aftermath of government violence during a workers' riot, showcasing the tragic reality of the oppressed.

  • "Bluestockings" Series (1844):

    • Focuses on liberated women emulating literary figures like George Sand, blending humor with social commentary.

  • "The Republic" (1848):

    • An allegorical sketch reflecting the ideal of republican motherhood.

Social Commentary in Daumier's Art

  • Daumier's lithographs often depicted the poor and working-class struggles. His approach mixed humor with critical social issues without sentimentality.

  • "The Third Class Carriage" illustrates the daily lives of Paris's lower classes in a cramped, realistic setting, revealing socio-economic disparities.

  • Street Performers: His works often captured the vibrancy and urgency of street life in urban environments, reflecting the growing population and social conditions in Paris.

Other Key Realist Artists

  • Jean-François Millet (1814-1875):

    • Focused on rural subjects, portraying peasants without romanticizing their hardship. Notable works include "The Sower" and "The Gleaners", emphasizing labor and social realities.

  • Gustave Courbet (1819-1877):

    • Known for his raw realism and substantial critique of societal structures.

    • Pioneered the portrayal of everyday life, including the working class and rural settings.

    • Significant works include "The Stone Breakers" (1849) and "The Burial at Ornans" (1849) showcasing anti-heroic depictions of hardship.

Revolutionary Themes and Political Backdrop

  • The backdrop of social upheaval between 1848-1871 influenced the themes in Daumier's and Courbet's works.

  • Artists documented revolutions, migrations, and transitions within French society. These influenced their depictions of labor, the lower class, and even immigration.

Artistic Techniques and Legacy

  • Daumier's works paved the way for modern artistic expression, communicating complex social issues through accessible artforms.

  • Courbet's self-identification and exploration of realities continued to resonate with later art movements, bridging the gap between realism and later avant-garde expressions.

  • The emergence of the second empire under Louis Napoleon also shaped the urban landscape and conditions of the working class in art, offering a backdrop against which many of these artists captured their subjects.