Gustave Courbet

France 1819-1877
Gustave Courbet, born on June 10, 1819 in Ornans, France, was a pivotal figure in the history of modern art and is often regarded as the leading exponent of Realism. A trailblazer who rejected the Romanticism and Neoclassicism prevalent during his time, Courbet's commitment to painting scenes from everyday life and the rural working class with unvarnished truth set him apart and had a profound impact on the trajectory of 19th-century art. Courbet's upbringing in the Franche-Comté region instilled in him an affinity for the simplicity and authenticity of peasant life, which became central themes in his work. He began his artistic journey at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris but soon grew disillusioned with academic conventions. Instead, he chose to develop his own style, capturing landscapes, still lifes, and portraits with raw immediacy and realism that defied traditional idealization. In 1855, Courbet made a groundbreaking move by establishing his own pavilion outside the official Universal Exposition, where he showcased his collection under the title "The Pavilion of Realism." This act symbolized his disdain for the established art world and marked the first significant challenge to the Salon system. His most famous works from this period include "The Stone Breakers" (1849), which has since been lost but was celebrated for its stark depiction of manual labor, and "A Burial at Ornans" (1849–1850), a monumental canvas that depicted ordinary townspeople participating in a funeral, breaking away from the grand historical or mythological narratives typical of large-scale paintings. Courbet's approach to painting was characterized by direct observation, thick brushstrokes, and a muted palette that conveyed a sense of physical weight and materiality. His landscapes, such as "The Source of the Loue" (1864), were imbued with a palpable sense of place and season, while his self-portraits like "Bonjour Monsieur Courbet" (1854) demonstrated a forthright engagement with the viewer. Courbet's influence extended beyond his own generation, inspiring later movements like Impressionism and eventually paving the way for Modern Art. However, his career was not without controversy; his political activism led to his involvement in the Paris Commune and subsequent imprisonment for his role in the destruction of the Vendôme Column. Following his release from prison, Courbet spent his last years in exile in Switzerland, where he continued to paint until his death on December 31, 1877. Throughout his oeuvre, Courbet steadfastly maintained his commitment to depicting reality as he saw it, asserting the importance of individual perception over preconceived notions of beauty or ideal forms. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of art to reflect society and challenge viewers to confront the complexities and truths of the human experience.

Collection of Works(Page 1)

A Brook in a Clearing,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, scenery, no humans, nature, tree, outdoors
A Brook in a Clearing
Resolution: 3803 × 3082 px
A Waterfall Near Ornans,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, no humans, scenery, outdoors, tree, stairs
A Waterfall Near Ornans
Resolution: 2048 × 3021 px
Alphonse Promayet (1822–1872),Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, 1boy, male focus, solo, facial hair
Alphonse Promayet (1822–1872)
Resolution: 2335 × 3569 px
Autumn Sea,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, waves, cloud, no humans, scenery, ocean, outdoors, sky
Autumn Sea
Resolution: 3937 × 2851 px
A Brook in the Forest,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, no humans, nature, scenery, forest, outdoors
A Brook in the Forest
Resolution: 3783 × 3080 px
A Young Woman Reading,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, 1girl, solo, book, reading, tree
A Young Woman Reading
Resolution: 4000 × 3258 px
An Alpine Scene,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, scenery, no humans, outdoors, tree, mountain
An Alpine Scene
Resolution: 3000 × 2477 px
Baigneuses dans la forêt,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, nature, forest, nude, tree, brown hair
Baigneuses dans la forêt
Resolution: 2048 × 2539 px
A Mill In A Rocky Landscape,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, no humans, scenery, outdoors, day, sky
A Mill In A Rocky Landscape
Resolution: 4460 × 3546 px
After the Hunt,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, nature, forest, 1boy, animal, male focus, boots
After the Hunt
Resolution: 2840 × 3638 px
Autoportrait dit Courbet au chien noir,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, fine art parody, 2girls
Autoportrait dit Courbet au chien noir
Resolution: 6164 × 5074 px
Bather Sleeping by a Brook,Gustave Courbet,Oil Painting,Oil Painting, fine art parody, 1girl, breasts
Bather Sleeping by a Brook
Resolution: 4048 × 5060 px