Realism If the Renaissance did not accurately portray real life, then Realism certainly did. Realist artists derived their inspiration from real life. However, it was not the real lives of the wealthy and well-to-do families but the lives of real, middle to low class people that these artists cared to paint. Poorer people were not portrayed as miserable but as dignified, respectable people with as much dignity as the wealthy. Two painting exemplify this period: "Snap the Whip" by Winslow Homer and "The Sower" by Jean-Francois Millet. Homer's "Snap the Whip" is an excellent example of Realism. Playing out in a field are young, ordinary boys. Not only that, but they are in an ordinary setting doing something ordinary boys would do. Homer had