Social Realism

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Social Realism was a political and artistic movement that flourished primarily during the 1920s and 1930s, a period marked by global economic depression, racial conflict, the rise of fascism, and revolutionary fervor.^[1] Artists within this movement aimed to create figurative and realistic depictions of the "masses," encompassing the working classes, labor union members, and the disenfranchised.

Dissatisfied with the French avant-garde and a perceived isolation from broader society, American artists sought a new artistic vocabulary to address social issues, believing art could be a tool against capitalist exploitation and fascism. This artistic approach is distinct from Soviet Socialist Realism, which became the dominant style in post-revolutionary Russia under Stalin. Social Realists saw themselves as laborers akin to factory and field workers, viewing their artistic practice as a critical contribution to society rather than an elite pursuit. United by a desire to critique the existing social and political power structures, these artists, despite variations in style, maintained a focus on realism, the human figure, and the human condition, building upon the legacies of earlier politically engaged artists. They considered the political content of their work to be a defining aspect of its modernity, diverging from the stylistic innovations of the School of Paris.