Styles & Periods

• Artists
• Styles & Periods
• Associations
• Glossary
• Projects
• Purchase Guides

Social Realism

At its core, Social Realism was an artistic movement that sought to illustrate the many hardships and struggles that common people endure. In the United States, Social Realism has ties to other movements, specifically American Regionalism. The Social Realists can also be compared to the 19th century realists, as they are united by the desire to bring attention to the reality, and in many cases, the haunting beauty of the underprivileged. In 1929, the Great Depression left millions of Americans unemployed, and set the scene for extreme poverty and hardship. The very essence of the nation's plight could be seen in the droves of migrants and the working poor. The Social Realists gave the Depression a face, an identity that has endured. The most well-known painting from the Social Realism movement is Grant Wood's American Gothic, a typical example of the style. Notable artists connected to the movement include Thomas Hart Benton, Edward Hopper, and, in Mexico, Frida Kahlo.

Feeling inspired? Try out these fine products…

At Least -1% Off Premier Colored Pencil Sets by Prismacolor All the pencils you'll ever need	At Least 29% Off Watercolor Pencil Hardwood Box Set by Derwent Switch from drawing to painting in an instant	Up to 59% Off Artists' Oil Brushes by Winsor & Newton The perfect balance
Up to 45% Off Carbon Pencil by Wolff's The professional standard for quality	From $0.99 Wrapped Charcoal Pencil by Prang Easy to use	At Least 29% Off Inktense Pencil Sets by Derwent Brilliant intensity.