Social Realism. Social Realism is a trend that originated around the 1930's in the West. It developed as a reaction against idealism and the exaggerated ego encouraged by Romanticism. Consequences of the Industrial Revolution became apparent: urban centers grew, and slums proliferated on a new scale, contrasting with the display of wealth of the upper classes. With a new sense of social consciousness, the Social Realists pledged to "fight the beautiful art" - any style …showed first 75 words of 402 total…

…showed last 75 words of 402 total…between people and the land. Their dressings emphasize poverty, one of the characteristics of Social Realism. Another example of Social Realism is "Harvest" by Concetta Scaravaglione (1937). This sculpture illustrates poor working-class people during the 1930s and the hardship of everyday life, which is one of the essential elements of Social Realism style. While the artistic style of social realism varies from nation to nation, it almost always utilizes a form of descriptive or critical realism.