Question

Why were Realist artists drawn to their subject matter?
b.
They wanted to record the life of everyday people and everyday activities.
c.
They wanted to challenge the traditions of the past.

Answer 1

Both — Realist artists were drawn to everyday subjects because they wanted to record ordinary life accurately and because doing so challenged the academic, historical, and idealized traditions of the past.
Examples: Courbet’s The Stone Breakers and Millet’s scenes of peasants show truthful depictions of working people and deliberately reject grand historical/mythological themes.