Artists by Movement: Social Realism
America, 1930's
Social Realism is a naturalistic realism focusing specifically on social issues and the hardships of everyday life. The term usually refers to the urban American Scene artists of the Depression era, who were greatly influenced by the Ashcan School of early 20th century New York.
Social Realism is somewhat of a pejorative label in the United States, where overtly political art, not to mention socialist politics, are extremely out of favor.
Ben Shahn, Jack Levine and Jacob Lawrence are the best-known American Social Realists.
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