The nineteenth century dislike of Realism is the rage of Caliban seeing his own face in a glass. The nineteenth century dislike of Romanticism is the rage of Caliban not seeing his own face in a glass.
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Preface. Here Wilde says that 19th century people do not like realistic art, because it shows them uncomfortable truths about themselves. And they don’t like romantic art because it shows them visions of what humanity might be, and they are unable to relate to it.