First artist to paint in a realistic style showing human emotions?

Caravaggio (1571-1610) is generally considered to be the first artist to paint in a realistic style that captures human emotions. He broke away from the idealized figures and classical themes that dominated Italian art of the 16th century and instead focused on everyday people depicted in natural, often dramatic scenes.

Caravaggio's use of dramatic lighting, bold colours, and realistic facial expressions brought a powerful intensity to his paintings, often characterized by a raw sense of emotion. One of his most famous works, "The Calling of St. Matthew" (c. 1599-1600), demonstrates this focus on the emotional response within ordinary figures through Matthew's dramatic reaction to his calling.

By using everyday people as models, Caravaggio's works also broke from the typical depiction of saints and nobles, democratizing art by showcasing universal human experiences in his subjects. Through Caravaggio's influence, artists began to emphasize authenticity and emotional depth in their paintings, giving rise to the development of Western realistic art as we know it.