- Depicted the harsh realities of rural life portraying peasants and farmers with dignity and empathy
- Challenged the prevailing artistic conventions of the time
- His painting "The Gleaners" (1857), became an icon of social realism
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877)
- Embraced Realism depicting everyday scenes and ordinary people
- Relied on direct observation and rejected idealized representation
- "The Burial at Ornans" (1849-50) courted controversy for its raw and unvarnished depiction of a rural funeral
Honoré Daumier (1808-1879)
- Known for his caricatures and political cartoons
- Used his art as a powerful tool to critique the political and social issues of the day
- His work often featured common people struggling against authority