SOCIAL REALISM(1930’S-1960’S)

Presented by:Victor Hicks & Erin Spencer

What is Social Realism?

Definition: the movement that depicts social and racial injustice, economic hardship, through pictures of life struggles.

Prominent during Great Depression (1930’s)

Working class looked at as heroes

Theme/Style

Theme: struggling, working class, everyday life poverty, and these emotions

Style: Photography

Dorothea Lange Walker Evans

Paintings (American scene paintings) Murals by Rivera & Orozco Portraits by Ben Shahn and Soyer Brothers

Influences on Social RealismGreat DepressionMexican Revolution Industrial RevolutionAmerican Gothic (Icon)

Great Depression and the Mexican Revolution (1930’s) Inspiration for most social realist works,

especially in the U.S. Social realism is seen as a form of social

protest during the great depression Government funded New Deal

organizations hired many artists Mexican Revolution was a revolt of the

middle class Turned into a very chaotic and politically

charged time in Mexican history

Industrial Revolution

Urban centers grow The difference between lower and upper

class grows This allowed social realism to focus on the

harsh realities of modern life and portray the working class

Social realism portrayed this in a detached and honest manner

American Gothic (Icon) Grant Wood (1931) Part of Regionalism, considered icon for

Social Realism paintings Traditional roles of men and women Colonial style dress & typical rural home Gothic theme (pitchforks) Symbolized hard work & intelligence in the

working class

Grant Wood – American Gothic (1930)

Grant Wood’s Sister and his Dentist

CONNECTED MOVEMENTS

RegionalismIdealism

Regionalism Coexisted as another main art movement

with social realism. Major artists include Grant Wood, Thomas

Hart Benton, and John Steuart Curry “Artists should paint out of the land and

people he knows best” – Wood Painted local scenes while capturing

universal significance of the subject. Social realism holds more lasting influence

Thomas Hart Benton—Ballad of the Jealous Lover (1934)

Social Realism v. Idealism Developed as a response to Idealistic

thought, beliefs Idealism: experience is ultimately based on

mental activity Focused more on perfection, excellence Social Realist artists focused on:

Struggle, poverty Working class Everyday life

Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive – William F.

Buckley, Jr.

Photography Dorothea Lange Walker Evans

Dorothea Lange Profoundly influenced the development of

photography Polio as child, compassion for those who were

suffering, poverty Her talent was that she was always in the

right place at the right time General themes (no date, time, or location) Quote: You know there are movements such

as these, when time stands still, and all you do is hold your breathe and hope it will wait for you.

Dorothea Lange – Migrant Mother (1936)

Florence Thompson and her Family

Dorothea Lange – White Angel Breadline (1933)

Walker Evans

“Fine photography is literature, and it should be.”

Went to school to try and become a writer Photos reflect his literary background Hired by the WPA during the Depression Photography is pure record, not

propaganda with no politics whatsoever Biggest work includes photographing

tenant farmers during the depression

Walker Evans—Tenant Farmers Wife (1936)

Walker Evans—Easton Pennsylvania (1935)

MEXICAN MURALIST MOVEMENT

Diego RiveraJosé Orozco

Diego Rivera Gifted & curious as a little boy, learned to

read/write @ age 4 Dad helped him learn to paint (artistic) Mexico’s similarities to Detroit Helped ppl see genius in engineering &

portrayed working class as heroes Fresco process Integrated working class, religion and race

into his murals (1932) Painted Detroit Industry Murals

Diego Rivera – South Wall of Detroit Industry (1932)

Diego Rivera – North Wall of Detroit Industry (1932)

José Orozco

Inspired by the Mexican revolution and political turmoil in Mexico

Wanted to show gaps between social ideals and reality

Had belief that historical events run in a never ending repeating circle

Emphasis on nationalist themes not universal

José Orozco—House of Tears (1916)

José Orozco—Catharsis (1934)

Ben Shahn

Believed art was “one of the last remaining outposts of free speech”

commissioned by the FSA to paint the Jersey homestead murals

Work often inspired by news reports Expression of Jewish experience in America Did some photography for the government

during the depression era Helped Rivera with Man at the Crossroads

Ben Shahn—Jersey Homesteads (1937)

Ben Shahn—Scotts Run, West Virginia (1937)

Moses Soyer Aschan School of Art Learned about “realistic, unglamorous”

representations of everyday life Early in career: murals During G. D. he was asked to paint murals

for WPA Art Project (New Deal) After WWII, focused on female figures &

ballet dancers Not a follower of A. E.

Moses Soyer—Seven Dancers (1941)

Raphael Soyer Art Students League (Charles Daniel) Joined brother in WPA Arts Project Champion social justice Changed from urban environment to

interior scenes (women) Taught class @ ASL , working with oil and

lithography Lithography: low, cost method of printing

using lime stones or metal plates

Raphael Soyer—My Friends (1948)