Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet was a champion of Realism. Forget romanticized visions of history and grand ideals; Courbet painted what he saw. His canvases featured everyday people, landscapes, and scenes – peasants working, nude bathers, the stark reality of death.

Key characteristics:

• Rejection of Idealization: Depicted subjects truthfully, flaws and all.
• Focus on the Contemporary: Showed modern life, not historical or mythological narratives.
• Visible Brushstrokes & Heavy Impasto: The paint itself was part of the statement, emphasizing the act of painting.
• Egalitarian Subject Matter: Elevated the common person to a worthy subject of art.

Think: Courbet = "Cour" as in "Courtyard" - bringing art down to earth, to the everyday courtyard scenes of life.