Question

​realism is firmly rooted in a long, realistic tradition in the arts, but as a recognized artistic movement of the 1970s, it is also in part a reaction against __________.

Answer 1

In part, realism developed as a reaction to abstract and expressionist movements that have been dominating the art scene since the first World War. The main idea of realism is to represent the subject truthfully, as opposed to abstract and artificial imagery characteristic for expressionism and movements that were influenced by it.