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Throughout the years, there have been many styles of painting that allow artists to express themselves, from expressionism to impressionism. Realism and idealism are also a few styles that share a few differences and thus present a question of whether the two oppose each other.
To determine whether painting realism is actually in opposition to idealism, some clarification of the differences in styles would be helpful. Realism is a style which focuses on the accurate depiction of nature or inorganic subjects without the exaggeration of color or brushstroke to make a statement. Realists place importance on the use of technical skill and technique in making their subject appear more lifelike through shading and modeling. Idealism does incorporate the use of realism in creating a unified composition, but is focused on the romantic aspect or theme that is intended to inspire the viewer.
Since realism abandons the use of emotion or dramatic effects in the artistic process, one could conclude that realism does indeed oppose idealism. There are no idealistic qualities necessary in a realistic painting to make it work. A realist simply copies what he or she sees and presents it on canvas in an attempt to baffle the viewer.