Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 25: Realism - The Stone Breakers (1849)

by Gustave Courbet

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The Realist movement (also called naturalism) was prevalent circa 1830-1900. Rejecting the overly wrought works of Romanticism, Realism sought to capture the world accurately and honestly. No longer were only the beautiful, the rich, the powerful, and the mythic worthy of being widely represented in art. Realism portrayed people from all walks of life. The first example of Realism, 'The Stone Breakers,' was painted by Gustave Courbet in 1849. In this painting, two laborers wearing tattered clothing, an old man and a young boy, break up rocks with hammers and gather the resultant smaller rocks in baskets. In the background, a pot, a satchel, and a spoon rest on a white blanket, perhaps to remind us that the laborers most likely struggle to feed themselves and their families.

Vocabulary

Realism: An artistic representation of reality as it is.
Naturalism: A movement in theatre, film, and literature that seeks to replicate a believable everyday reality, as opposed to such movements as Romanticism or Surrealism, in which subjects may receive highly symbolic, idealistic, or even supernatural treatment.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Realism
2. Timeline - approximately 1830-1900

Realism Characteristics and Subjects:

1. Everyday Life ('The Chess Players' by Honoré Daumier in 1863)

2. People from All Walks of Life ('The Gleaners' by Jean-François Millet in 1857)

3. Hardship ('Visit to the Poor' by Vladimir Makovsky in 1874)

4. Encroachment of Industrialization on Nature ('Pariser Vorstadt' by Jean-François Raffaëlli circa 1880/1890)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Young Boy
• Old Man
• Hillside
• Hammer
• Wizened Hands
• Basket of Stones
• Pot with Lid

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Realist art movement.
• Find Realism on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did Realism flourish?
• Which art movement preceded Realism?
• Which art movement followed Realism?

Activity 4: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 28 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are the two laborers.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is outdoors next to a hill.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Realist art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of Realism?

4 / 5

Answer 4

Realism portrays people from all walks of life and those undergoing hardships, such as the laborers in the artwork.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Courbet painted this artwork in the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are the two laborers.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors next to a hill.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Realist art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of Realism? Realism portrays people from all walks of life and those undergoing hardships, such as the laborers in the artwork.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Courbet painted this artwork in the 19th century.

References

'The Stone Breakers.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Realism (art movement).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Realism (arts).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.