What started realism?

As a field expert in the history of art and literature, I would like to delve into the origins and characteristics of the Realism movement, which marked a significant shift in the cultural landscape of the 19th century.
Realism emerged as a response to the dominant artistic and literary movements of the time, particularly Romanticism. Romanticism, which had been prevalent since the late 18th century, emphasized emotion, individualism, and nature as sources of inspiration. It often depicted heroic figures, the sublime, and the idealized beauty of the world. However, by the mid-19th century, a growing dissatisfaction with the idealized and sometimes exaggerated depictions of Romanticism led to the rise of Realism.
The Realism movement began primarily in France during the 1850s, a period marked by significant social and political changes. The 1848 Revolution in France was a pivotal event that contributed to the emergence of Realism. The revolution sought to address social inequalities and the need for political reform, and these themes resonated with the Realist artists and writers who sought to depict the world as it truly was, rather than through the lens of idealization.
Realist artists and writers rejected the Romantic ideal of art as an escape from the mundane and instead focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people. They depicted the working class, the poor, and the marginalized, often in a stark and unflattering light. This was a radical departure from the Romantic portrayal of the world, which tended to avoid the harsh realities of life.
One of the key figures of the Realist movement was the French painter Gustave Courbet. Courbet's work, such as "The Stone Breakers" (1850) and "A Burial at Ornans" (1849-1850), exemplified the Realist commitment to depicting the lives of the common people in a truthful and unembellished manner. His paintings were a stark contrast to the historical and mythological subjects that were popular during the Romantic period.
In literature, the Realist movement was characterized by a focus on detailed observation and an objective representation of social realities. Writers like Honoré de Balzac, Émile Zola, and the American author Mark Twain were known for their meticulous attention to detail and their willingness to explore the complexities of human nature and society. Balzac's series "La Comédie Humaine" is a prime example of the Realist novel, offering a vast panorama of French society with its intricate web of interrelated characters and stories.
Realism also extended to the realm of philosophy and social thought. Thinkers like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, while not artists themselves, were influential in shaping the intellectual climate in which Realism flourished. Their materialist conception of history and critique of capitalism provided a theoretical framework that aligned with the Realist emphasis on the material conditions of life and the social structures that shaped human experience.
The movement spread beyond France to other parts of Europe and the United States, influencing a wide range of artistic and literary works. It was not without its critics, however, who argued that Realism was overly pessimistic and lacked the uplifting qualities of Romanticism. Despite these criticisms, Realism left a lasting impact on the arts and laid the groundwork for subsequent movements such as Naturalism and, to some extent, Modernism.
In conclusion, Realism was a movement that sought to portray the world in a more truthful and objective manner than had been done by the Romantics. It was a reaction to the social and political upheavals of the time and a reflection of the changing attitudes towards art and literature. By focusing on the everyday lives of ordinary people and the social issues of the day, Realism provided a new lens through which to view the world and contributed significantly to the cultural development of the 19th century.

Realism was an artistic movement that began in France in the 1850s, after the 1848 Revolution. Realists rejected Romanticism, which had dominated French literature and art since the late 18th century.