Philosophy, InspirationTex BishopNovember 14, 2016art, painting, oil painting, andrew wyeth, realism, philosophy, art critiqueComment

Realism: An Opinion

Philosophy, InspirationTex BishopNovember 14, 2016art, painting, oil painting, andrew wyeth, realism, philosophy, art critiqueComment

Andrew Wyeth.

He's an amazing painter. The painting in the banner above is his most famous painting, "Christina's World", flanked by portraits of him at different stages of his life. I've loved him since I first saw his work when I was learning to paint, and I've found that I'm not alone. In the artist interviews I've listened to, I've heard a number of very successful and skillful painters list Andrew Wyeth as an influence, someone they admire, with a skill that transcends anything they feel they could accomplish themselves. He's able to capture so much atmosphere and emotion, with such mundane content and so few colors.

My opinion on realism in painting the last few years has been this: it serves no purpose; it's an antiquated style that once had purpose, before the invention of the modern day camera, but that has now become no more than a masturbatory show of technical skill. I don't see realist paintings very often, but when I do, its typically a landscape, portrait or urban scene. And they don't really look any different than a photograph. You'd have to look closely to tell that it isn't a photograph. And on paintings of this kind, my opinion stands. You may as well just take a photograph. The photograph wouldn't impress anyone with your level of technical skill the way a painting would, but it would be able to do everything else the painting does.

I feel that this kind of approach to painting ignores what the medium has to offer. Painting gives you the chance to draw more out of your subject. More beauty, more emotion, more intensity, whatever you desire. So why just make it look like a photograph?

However, that doesn't mean that realism has no place in contemporary art. And I hadn't really thought about it much, until I realized that Andrew Wyeth's work would be considered realism. And his work most definitely has a place in the contemporary art world. But, he isn't simply mimicking a photograph. He's capturing a moment, the feeling of that moment, the peacefulness, loneliness and entropy that surrounded him. And it's beautiful.

There is also the approach of depicting unrealistic subject matter, realistically. For example: a fantastical dream scene; a crowded rally, protesting short people, but everyone is blue, as a commentary on racism and human nature; a busy urban street scene and sidewalk, seemingly a photo-realistic mimic, but with something intentionally off or wrong somewhere, to jar the viewer's sensibilities or perception. This was the only application of the style that I felt held merit, before I considered Wyeth. I've been told there's currently a movement of painters doing this, but I'm not familiar with any of them. I'd consider exploring these ideas myself, but I don't currently have the necessary technical skill to pull it off.

If you have an argument against this opinion, some other insight into the value of realism, or recommendation for an artist I should look at, I'd like to hear about it.

Edit: You know what, I lied. I realized after going through my links for artists to post to tumblr, I do know a couple of artists that would be considered to be within that movement. Odd Nerdrum, and Lui Liu.