Social RealismBy Victoria Massey and

Nicole Fuerstnau

What is Social Realism?

Focused on the social issues and the American

struggle of everyday life during the 1930’s-1960’s

Origins

Traces back to European Realism

Britain's Industrial Revolution

The Ashcan School

What was happening during the movement:

• Great Depression

• Mexican Revolution

• Industrial Revolution

Themes within Social Realist Artists

Economic hardships

Social and racial injustice

Anti-war sentiment

Artists Involved:

• Grant Wood

• Dorothea Lange

• Thomas Hart Benton

• Ben Shahn

Grant Wood

Associated with the movement Regionalism

Rural American Themes

American Gothic (1930)

Daughters of Revolution (1932)

Dorothea Lange

Photographer for FSA

Connected the relationship of work to living through

image and composition

Migrant Mother (1936)

Negro Children, Mississippi Delta (1936)

Thomas Hart Benton

Known for use of color

Painting strongly associated with Midwest

New York City was a strong influence

Plowing it Under (1934)

Hollywood (1937)

Fisherman at Sunset (1947)

Ben ShahnFSA photographer

Identified himself as a communicative artists

Used contrast to create tension

Farmers (1943)

W.P.A. Sunday (1939)

Impact of Social Realism

Opened the eyes of the public

Gave sense of identity

Criticism of Social RealismPublic was outraged