Naturalism is an 18th century artistic movement concerned with the
depiction of realistic subjects in natural settings.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]
Explain why Naturalism emerged as a predominant art form during the Enlightenment.
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
Naturalism emerged in opposition to the dominant Romantic and Rococo movements of the 18th
century and favored direct, objective, realistic and moral painting.
Romantic art is known for its elevation of the emotions and the imagination of the individual, as
well as for placing emphasis on elaborate decoration, ornamentation and idealized forms.
Important Naturalist painters of the period include Jules Bastien­Lepage (1848­1884), Jean­
Francois Millet (1814­1875) and Albert Charpin (1842­1924).
In philosophy, Naturalism asserts that the laws of nature, as opposed to supernatural laws, are
responsible for governing the universe.
TERMS [ edit ]
elevation
a geometrical projection of a building, or other object, on a plane perpendicular to the horizon
Romanticism
18th Century artistic and intellectual movement which stressed emotion, freedom and individual
imagination
Enlightenment
A philosophical movement in 17th­ and 18th­century Europe; the Age of Enlightenment, or the
Age of Reason, emphasized rationalism.
Give us feedback on this content: FULL TEXT [ edit ]
In philosophy, Naturalism asserts that the
laws of nature, as opposed to supernatural
laws, are responsible for governing the
universe.
During the Enlightenment era
philosophers, including Francis Bacon
and Voltaire, argued that supernatural
forces should be removed from the study
of the natural world in favor of non­
theistic explanations for biology, geology,
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physics and the other natural sciences.
This secularization of science went hand­in­hand with the general displacement of religious
authority prevalent in Enlightenment thinking, which in turn affected the artistic movements
of the time.
Naturalism in art refers to an 18th century movement that emerged as a reaction to the
Romantic art of the period and was concerned with the depiction of realistic subjects in
natural settings. Evolving at the same time as the Realist movement, Naturalism shares with
it a deep interest in the realistic depiction of the world. However, Realism was ultimately
concerned with the depiction of moralistic imageryand rejected conventional beauty. In this
way, Realism favored the depiction of idealized forms whereas Naturalism can be
distinguished by its strict adherence to depicting things accurately and objectively.
Romanticism, including the Rococo style, was the predominant artistic movement of the
18th century in Europe, and was itself a backlash against the scientific rationalization of
nature indicative of the Enlightenment period. Romantic art is known for its elevation of the
emotions and the imagination of the individual, as well as for placing emphasis on elaborate
decoration, ornamentation and idealized forms. A common theme in Romantic painting is
the portrayal of human terror and awe in the face of the sublimity of unbridled nature.
Whereas Naturalism, as well as Realism, favoured direct, objective, realistic and moral
painting. Important Naturalist painters of the period include Jules Bastien­Lepage (1848­
1884), Jean­Francois Millet (1814­1875) and Albert Charpin (1842­1924).
Jules Bastien­Lepage was a French painter who received a great deal of acclaim during his
lifetime. Raised in a small village in France, Bastien­Lepage studied art in Paris and soon
received honors such as an award at the Prix de Romeand the cross of the Legion of Honour.
His work is believed to have influenced the Impressionists in its tonal qualities and
brushwork. The painting ‘Haymaking' is a good example of the Naturalist style evident in his
work .
Jules Bastien­Lepage, Haymaking
The painting ‘Haymaking' is a good example of the Naturalist style evident in Bastien­Lepage's work.
Jean Francois Millet is known for his paintings of peasant farmers as well as for founding the
Barbizon school, and his work falls into both the Naturalist and Realist movements. His
painting ‘The Gleaners' (1857), portrays three peasant women gathering what is left from a
field after a harvest . The wealthy owners are seen in the distance, while the three women are
central to the painting. The focus of the subject is thus shifted from the wealthy and
prominent to the lower class. The landscape is of great importance to the work, and it is a
major highlight of the painting.
Jean­Francois Millet, The Gleaners
Jean­Francois Millet was one of the most important Naturalist painters of the period.
The Barbizon school of painters belonged to a movement towards Realism and Naturalism,
which rejected the excess and ornamentation of Romanticism. Prominent from about 1830­
1870, the name is taken from Barbizon, France, where the artists of the school gathered.
The aesthetic features of this style include complex tonal qualities, a pastel palette, loose
brushwork and softness of form. A well­known member of the Barbizon school is Albert
Charpin, a painter of natural landscapes, which often included a shepherdess taking care of
animals. His paintings feature distinctly natural poses and often depict morning light with
cloudy skies, as seen in ‘Woman with Lambs' .
Albert Charpin, Woman with Lambs
Charpin's paintings often include a shepherdess taking care of animals. His paintings also feature
distinctly natural poses and often depict morning light with cloudy skies.