The movement originated in response to Romanticism, which had dominated French literature and art since the late 1800s. Realism rebelled against the Romantic movement's exotic subject matter, heightened emotionalism, and drama. "Realism" means "something actual or genuine," and this new literary direction was well suited to address the political and social changes of France after Napoleon. Romanticism had made its influence felt through poetry, music, and painting. The Austrian emperor Francis I was the most famous fan of Romantic artists such as Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Van Dyck. In 1765 he opened the first exhibition of his paintings in Austria, which drew thousands of visitors a year. But by the early 19th century, the empire was in decline, and Europe was becoming aware of new ways of thinking about society and politics. So realism offered a needed change from the over-the-top emotions of Romanticism to the everyday realities of modern life. It is important to note that realism did not mean documentary prose or autobiography. Rather, it meant an attempt to represent reality accurately and completely. Before realists, authors often relied on oral testimony, correspondence, and other second-hand sources for information about their subjects' lives. Now they tried to find original material, whether documents or interviews with people who knew the subjects.