Social Realism

Social Realism in visual art is the representation of a specific society in order to highlight issues and injustices within it. Social Realism often criticizes poverty, inequality, corruption and other social issues. It is distinct from the mid-20th century socialist realism movement created by Joseph Stalin, that aimed to idealize life in the Soviet Union through art.

The Social Realism art movement became prominent in America during the Great Depression that took place between 1929 and 1939. It was comprised of creators of all art forms, including painters, cartoonists, poets and filmmakers. It grew at the same time as American Regionalism, an artistic movement that aimed to depict rural American life. Members of the Social Realism movement critiqued American society and politics throughout the 1930s, using art as a form of activism. Among these artists were Mexican muralists Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco, and many other left-wing artists across America. 

Artsper has curated a selection of artists following in the footsteps of the Social Realism movement, using art as a form of social protest. Join us to discover artists such as Jacob Lawrence and Karol Kállay today!