As is well known, the term naturalism has carried a multitude of meanings. It generally designates the qualities of an artwork that are considered characteristic of a specific time period or movement, or even defines a stylistic epoch. However, even if considered systematically, meanings of naturalism diverge quite profoundly depending on the context of usage. What is true of all the various tendencies, methods and works is that they strive toward the imitation of nature or a heightened level of reality. This raises the question as to how techniques of pictorial description and varieties of illusionism produce knowledge. To what extent do instances of objectivity and claims to truth derive from the apparent withdrawal of artistic intervention?
