Who are the major players of this era realism?

The major players of the realism era, particularly in literature and art from the mid-19th century, include writers like Gustave Flaubert, Leo Tolstoy, and Henry James, who focused on depicting everyday life and social issues with authenticity. In visual arts, notable figures include Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet, who challenged romantic ideals and portrayed realistic scenes of contemporary life. This movement emphasized observation and detail, reflecting the complexities of human experience. Realism served as a reaction to romanticism, highlighting the mundane and often harsh aspects of reality.