Dictionary
Critical Realism
In general, the term Critical Realism denotes any form of realist art with a fundament of social and socio-critical considerations. In particular, it denotes a form of art that arose both in the USA and in Europe in the late 1960s, which was close to Pop Art and Fotorealism in terms of style, using their stylistic features in order to implement critical contents. With this tendency, Critical Realism clearly is a child of its time, the era of student protests, emancipation, environmental and anti-nuclear movement. In terms of art, Critical Realism connected with the ideas of Verism and New Objectivity.
The combining techniques photomontage and collage, also used by Pop artists, were quite popular among artists of Critical Realism, as they were suitable means to depict social grievances and at the same time contrasting them with the disregard in society. This intention is clearly expressed in Wolf Vostell's (1932-98) "Miss America" from 1968, in which he combines a shocking press photo of the war in Vietnam with a trivial fashion photo. The Berlin artist Peter Sorge (1937-2000), who emphasized the educational intention of Critical Realism, made similar works.
The works of Harald Duwe (1926-84) from Hamburg examine the situation of children within changing circumstances - in his picture "Florian" from 1974, a boy is deprived of his living space by mounts of waste.
Johannes Grützke (born in 1937) took on social grievances in an exaggerated, caricature-like manner. In the field of graphic art, Klaus Staeck (born 1938) is a representative of Critical Realism worthwhile mentioning.
Summing up, Critical Realism is a form of art that is characterized by a realist approach, a particular choice of subjects and a didactic undertone, it had its heyday in the late 1960s and 1970s.
In general, the term Critical Realism denotes any form of realist art with a fundament of social and socio-critical considerations. In particular, it denotes a form of art that arose both in the USA and in Europe in the late 1960s, which was close to Pop Art and Fotorealism in terms of style, using their stylistic features in order to implement critical contents. With this tendency, Critical Realism clearly is a child of its time, the era of student protests, emancipation, environmental and anti-nuclear movement. In terms of art, Critical Realism connected with the ideas of Verism and New Objectivity.
The combining techniques photomontage and collage, also used by Pop artists, were quite popular among artists of Critical Realism, as they were suitable means to depict social grievances and at the same time contrasting them with the disregard in society. This intention is clearly expressed in Wolf Vostell's (1932-98) "Miss America" from 1968, in which he combines a shocking press photo of the war in Vietnam with a trivial fashion photo. The Berlin artist Peter Sorge (1937-2000), who emphasized the educational intention of Critical Realism, made similar works.
The works of Harald Duwe (1926-84) from Hamburg examine the situation of children within changing circumstances - in his picture "Florian" from 1974, a boy is deprived of his living space by mounts of waste.
Johannes Grützke (born in 1937) took on social grievances in an exaggerated, caricature-like manner. In the field of graphic art, Klaus Staeck (born 1938) is a representative of Critical Realism worthwhile mentioning.
Summing up, Critical Realism is a form of art that is characterized by a realist approach, a particular choice of subjects and a didactic undertone, it had its heyday in the late 1960s and 1970s.
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