Realistic tendencies in Dutch painting

XVII-XVIII centuries – this is the time of the emergence and development of realistic trends in art: objectivity in the transmission of the visible, accuracy, concreteness, impartiality of perception of life, lack of idealization, attention to common people, deep, felt perception of life and nature, simplicity and naturalness in the transmission of human feelings. 17th century artists just learned to see life as it is.

Realistic tendencies in painting can be observed in the work of the great Dutch artist Rembrandt. Addressing his students, he said:

“Learn first of all to follow the rich nature and reflect what you find in it. Heaven, earth, sea, animals, good and evil people – all serve for our exercise. Plains, hills, streams and trees provide enough work for the artist. Cities, markets, churches and thousands of natural resources cry to us and say: go thirsty for knowledge, contemplate us and reproduce us. “

Carefully following nature, the Dutch masters managed to discover the beauty of the visible world in its most diverse manifestations. Their works still retain the vibrant thrill of real life, convey the colorful wealth of the surrounding world.