Group 7 Discussion: Summary of "The Origins of Painting and Its Representational Value" What Is Realism?

Group 7 Discussion
Sierra Smith
Ericka Gantick
Katie Goss
Andrew Ling
11/7/14
Summary of The Origins of Painting and its Representational Value

What is Realism?
o Legr asks the question: what does that represent?
o He asserts the claim that the realistic value of a work of art is completely
independent of any imitative character
o The quality of a pictorial work is in direct proportion to its quantity of realism
o But what constitutes realism?
Pictorial realism is the simultaneous ordering of three great plastic
components:
Lines
Forms
Colors
o Since period pieces do not have the components needed to attain to pure
realism, they must finally disappear
Impressionists:
o The impressionists were the first to reject the absolute value of the subject and
to consider its value to be merely relative
o Impressionists are the great originators of the present movement wishing to free
themselves from the imitative aspect
o They considered painting for its color only, neglecting all form and all lines
Focused on green apple against red carpet shows relationship between 2
tones
o The imitation of the subject that their work still involves is a theme and nothing
more
Visual Realism vs. Realism of Conception:
o Epoch of French painting is a precise moment that the two great pictorial
concepts (visual realism & realism of conception) meet
o Visual realism demands an object, a subject, and devices of perspective that are
now considered negative and antirealistic
o Realism of Conception has already been achieved in many contemporary
pictures
Czanne vs. Manet
o Czanne
Understands traditional painting
Felt the necessity for new form and draftsmanship closely linked to the
new color
Took over after Manet
o
o
o
A transitional painter
Finds a color and struggles in the pursuit of a structure and form that
Manet destroyed
Feels that it is necessary to express the great reality
Manet
Gradually abandoned the methods of his predecessors to arrive at
impressionism
Great creator of impressionism
Was inspired by Velsquez & Goya, and the luminous works to arrive at
new forms
All great movements in painting have always proceeded by revolution, by
reaction, but not by evolution
The relationships among volumes, lines, and colors will prove to be the
springboard for all the work of recent years
Pictorial contrasts (complementary colors, lines, and forms) are the structural
basis of modern pictures
Transition of Eras:
o Many people think that modern painting is passing through a stage, but that it
will return to what is commonly called painting for everyone
However, people are making a mistake by saying this because when art is
in possession of all its means, it is bound to be dominant for a very long
time
o If art had not had an affinity with its own time, and had not been an evolution
deriving from past epochs, it would not have been able to survive
o Modern mechanical achievements (color photography, motion-picture camera,
popular novels, popularization of theaters, etc.) have effectively replaced the
visual, sentimental, representational, and popular pictorial art
None of the paintings in the French Salon can compete with modern day
cinema
o Subject paintings reason for existence has disappeared
o The portrait painter is dying out, and the genre and historical painters will die
out too not by a natural death but killed off by their period
o Since the means of expression have multiplied, plastic art must logically limit
itself to its own purpose: realism of conception
o Architectural art is confining itself to its own means the relationship between
lines and the balance of large masses; the decorative element itself is becoming
plastic and architectural
o Pictorial art gains in realism
o The modern conception is not simply passing abstraction is the total expression
of new generation whose needs it shares and whose aspirations it answers
Discussion Questions:
1.
How do you think modern art has changed since previous times? What certain
aspects can you point out when comparing Manets work vs. Czannes work?
Dejeuner Sur LHerbe (Manet)

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The Basket of Apples (Czanne)
Why do you think that modern mechanical achievements (i.e. movies,

photography, etc.) have replaced pictorial art? What are some aspects that aided
in this transition?
Why do you think impressionists only focused on contrasting colors and not on
form or lines?
Can people as observers of art almost expect each new form of art to be
demanding of a great reaction?
Why do we continue to be surprised by this recurring movement that has been
occurring throughout history?
Do you think that art has transformed throughout time in a negative or a positive
way? Why?
Do you believe that we are awaiting an end to this modern phase of art? If so,
what do you believe might come next? Will old styles of art become popular
again? Or will there be a new style of art that evolves?

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Group 7 Discussion

Summary of The Origins of Painting and its Representational Value

Dejeuner Sur LHerbe (Manet)

The Basket of Apples (Czanne)

Why do you think that modern mechanical achievements (i.e. movies,

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