French Realism

• French Realism began not long after the Revolution of 1048 which deprived France of their current monarchy. Realists sought the opportunity to paint the realism of working classes. In other words; to paint the reality the high classes thought did not exist. Thus the artists went against the principles of Neoclassicism and also most themes from Romanticism.
• Gustav Courbet was the source of this new way of portraying life. He was an influence to other artists of his time.

Oath of the Horatii by David
Neoclassicism

Grande Odalisque by Ingres
Romanticism

"Woman with a Rake" 

By  Jean Francois Millet (1814- 1875)

• In this painting we see the hardships of low-class women. The background is quite dull in relation to the foreground. There isn't any sort of blue sky happiness, its all just grey and bleak and full of misery. Her garments also show her state of poverty. The sleeves in her dress appear to be held together by what seems to be rope. This could be because she might not be able to afford more clothes, so attached the sleeves in that manner. 
• Since her face is dulled out by her head piece, it gives a sort of anonymous feel; like who she really is doesn't matter, but the message behind it does. Behind her are other women working in clusters of two or threes working together. This brings up questions like why is the focal point of our image working alone? Perhaps to justify a solitude experienced by most top-classed socialists. 

"The Third-Class Carriage"

By Honore Daumier (1808-1879)

• Daumier aims to portray the everyday life or a poor family when life appears to be a bit more calm. Although, he does capture hardship through their posture, clothes and features. The background isn't given much importance so Daumier dulled it, leaving the three main important figures highlighted. 
• Daumier's style in this painting is soft, using a continues cluster of lines, giving the painting a sense of unity. From the thick black outlines drawn for detail in the mother's hands, we can see that the painting has yet to be finished. Although its current state has a more defined look. 

Sources:-

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–2013. Nineteenth–Century French Realism [online] Available at: <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rlsm/hd_rlsm.htm> [Accessed Monday 3^rd March, 2014].

Artble, 2014. The Third-Class Carriage Analysis. [online] Available at: <http://www.artble.com/artists/honore_daumier/paintings/the_third-class_carriage/more_information/analysis> [Monday 3^rd March, 2014].