The Enlightenment era, spanning roughly from the late 17th to the early 19th century, was a period marked by a profound shift in intellectual and cultural attitudes, emphasizing reason, science, and the questioning of traditional authority. In the realm of art, this period laid the groundwork for Realism, though the actual Realist movement would not fully emerge until the mid-19th century.

During the Enlightenment, art began to move away from the ornate and highly stylized forms of the Baroque and Rococo periods. Artists started to adopt a more observational approach, focusing on accuracy and a naturalistic representation of the world. This change was influenced by the Enlightenment's emphasis on empirical evidence and scientific method, encouraging artists to observe and depict the world around them with a new sense of accuracy and detail.

One key aspect of this shift was the growing interest in depicting scenes of everyday life, also known as genre painting. Artists like Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin in France and William Hogarth in England became known for their detailed and realistic portrayals of domestic and urban scenes, often with moral or satirical undertones.

Portraiture during the Enlightenment also reflected a turn towards realism. Artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds in England sought to capture not just the physical likeness of their subjects but also a sense of their character and social status. Their portraits often conveyed a sense of naturalism and individuality, aligning with the Enlightenment's focus on the human being as a rational and distinct individual.

Landscape painting too saw changes, with artists like Canaletto and the Dutch masters depicting realistic urban and rural scenes. These works often displayed a keen observation of light, atmosphere, and daily life, moving away from the idealized landscapes of earlier periods.

While the Enlightenment era did not see Realism as a defined artistic movement, it undoubtedly set the stage for its emergence. The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, observation, and empirical evidence influenced artists to develop a more realistic approach to art, focusing on the accurate depiction of the world around them. This foundation paved the way for the Realist movement of the 19th century, where artists would fully embrace and further develop these principles.