§ 8.—REALISM AND CONVENTIONALISM: DEFINITIONS.
REALISM—the result of Realistic treatment, i.e., the attempt to render the reproduction as like the reality as is possible, even to the verge of deception—is the aim of the Pictorial-Artist. In Pictures the surface appears to have been annihilated, and the spectator beholds the scene as if there were a hole through the wall. It is not the highest, and should not be the only aim in Art; but it has always been sought for and admired. It requires perfect conditions, of materials and tools; i.e., complete Technical appliances.
CONVENTIONALISM—the result of incomplete Technical appliances, and the attempt to render so much of the Beauty of the original as is possible, with due regard to their capabilities—is the aim of the Decorative-Artist. It is not the highest aim; though a necessary curb in Decorative-Art, both for the technical reason, and also as a result of the Position or Function of the object.
It will thus be seen that the two words, when used with regard to foliage of any kind, refer to the Method of representing it, and not to its Kind or its manner of Growth.