Schools of Realism

Schools of realism did exist in America that were similar in nature to their Russian counterpart. For example, the art of the new American West and the Soviet Virgin Land paintings both portray the pioneering efforts of immigrants breaking new ground. American Depression era artists also shared a common alliance with Soviet Realist artists. Both groups were participants in creating a new society and igniting a spirit of social conscience. Works by artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, and John Steuart Curry are representative of American Depression era artists. The Realist schools were not insignificant in America, but were viewed as minor schools of painting during the twentieth century, where modernist styles of painting predominated. Stylistically, however, American Realism and Soviet Realism were quite different. In the Soviet Union, most Realist style painting was of a fine arts nature. This is only natural considering Soviet artists were typically trained in fine arts academies. In America, Realist style painting was of a more illustrative nature where most Realist artists received training in graphic design and illustration. This can be seen by comparing an example of an illustration style portrait painting by Grant Wood to the Soviet Realism portrait below. The quality of the Soviet Realists is thought to surpass its American counterpart. It has been said that the Soviet Realist school of art may be the world's most significant twentieth century Realist school of art.