An Exhibition of Russian Realism Painting

An Exhibition of Russian Realism Painting in the second-half of the 19th century was held in several cities in China, from August, 2006 to the early 2007.

Early in the 19th  century, Russia's artistic community continued to share much in common with contemporary European art. Focus was placed on the schools of Rome, Bologna, and Paris and the Russian artists were skilled in the techniques and stylistic approaches popular in Europe. With the advent of Romanticism, a new emphasis was placed on the portraits of individuals (in particular, portraits and self-portraits of artists) and representations of historical events. Moreover, as art began to spread beyond the court circles, Russian artists took renewed interest in the world surrounding them instead of admiring distant European countries. This change was reflected in a move towards greater naturalism. However, throughout the early part of the century, the conflict between classicism, idealism, and naturalism was clearly visible, and it was only toward the middle of the century that the realistic tendencies became dominant.

With the rise in national spirit, genre painting, which had always been considered a rather inferior branch of the arts, gained strength and established itself as a valuable part of the Russian artistic heritage. The new interest in peasant life, culture, and traditional costumes can be seen in the works of Aleksei Venetsianov. His realistic portrayal of the Russian peasant and his poetic attitude towards the Russian landscape are important starting points of this tradition. Other painters, particularly Fedotov, examined the middle class and in their works gave first examples of social criticism, a trend which would increase in the second half of the nineteenth century. Taken together, the art of this early period, including the portraiture, conversation pieces, genre painting, and historical canvasses, became known as romantic realism. It was characterized not only by a growth of naturalism, but also by focusing attention on the individual, and by an increased appreciation for the Russian landscape, for the life of the Russian peasant, and for the medieval heritage of Russia.

The next significant movement of the nineteenth century is known as ideological realism.The late nineteenth century was the time of the Slavic (or Russian) Revival, a movement which grew out of the conflict between those who believed that Russia should define itself in Western terms (with an increasing incorporation of Western ideas and ideals) and those who thought that a return to and rediscovery of Russian heritage was best for the nation. This movement can be seen even as a rejection of the policies and ideas of Peter the Great, with his emphasis on secularization and westernization, and as an affirmation of national heritage. An important part of Russia's artistic development, the Slavic Revival focused on the medieval art and architecture of Russia and the richness of the Russian culture as found in the lives of Russian peasants. Obviously, the earlier movements of the century as well as political and social developments and recent archeological discoveries helped prepare the way for the revival.