Final answer:
Realism in art refers to the depiction of subjects and their surroundings in a way that is true to life, without idealization or romanticization. It arose in France in the 1850s and included artists like Courbet and Millet, who chose to paint everyday people and situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When referring to paintings and art, realism means that the subjects and background appear as they would in real life. Realism as an artistic movement, which began in France in the 1850s, sought to portray contemporary life and situations with truth and accuracy. It was a reaction against the emotionalism and exaggerated drama of Romanticism, as the Realists depicted everyday subjects including the working class and scenes of rural life. Realism artists like Gustave Courbet, Honore Daumier, and Jean-François Millet aimed to represent the world with an objective view, visually narrating the life of ordinary people through their art. This included capturing scenes from everyday life, such as peasants working in fields, life in cafes, and unidealized portrayals of human figures. The movement set the stage for subsequent art movements like Impressionism.