General term for a quality of art works in which the depiction is based on or seems to be based on the direct observation of the external world, including or even emphasizing flaws and imperfections rather than the beauty or idealized characteristics. Although a work may be both realistic and naturalistic, naturalism may somewhat idealize the flaws or ugliness of the subject depicted. For the formal style and period displaying the general characteristics of realism, such as in the painting of Gustave Courbet, use "Realist (modern European fine arts styles)."
