Artists

Gustav Courbet

Gustav Courbet

(1819 - 1877)
Born: Ornans, France
Style: Realism
Famous Works:
  • The Desperate Man (Self-Portrait) (1843-45)
  • Bonjour, Monsieur Courbet (1854)
  • Studio of a Painter: A Real Allegory Summarizing My Seven Years as an Artist (1854-55)
Gustave Courbet was one of the first artists to portray realism in his paintings, displaying a fearlessness of previously neglected subjects. He chose not to censor his portraits in acquiescence to the church or established hierarchy. Instead, the paintings of Courbet were uninhibited and honest. This new approach was in part inspired by the mastery of outdoor landscape painting of his elder colleague Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot. However, in Courbet's work there was the added desire to break from the traditions of religious and academic subjects. This was a new, anti-intellectual kind of artwork called Realism. In fact Courbet coined this term in a one-man show by the same title in Paris in 1855. Courbet did not desire to portray the calculated beauty of the paintings to which bourgeois society was accustomed. Intentionally disregarding what was considered pleasing, his compositions were seemingly random and therefore unpretentious. He did not use garish colors or other catchy affects of painters before him. By stripping his paintings of all these conventional methods, he was signaling the viewers to reestablish what was sincere and was true. No longer were there reenactments of classical myths, or references to history. Courbet's paintings were simply about man in the landscape. His work played a major role in the career of Édouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, and Claude Monet, as well as many other Impressionists.
Feeling inspired? Try out these fine products…

Up to 37% Off

Up to 34% Off

From $3.35

At Least 29% Off

Iridescent and Interference Acrylics

by Golden

Add unique dimensions to your acrylic works
Top Rated

Up to 41% Off

Up to 55% Off

Latest Product Reviews
The product is easy to use and clean up well. I use it all the time when painting detailed areas. I received item quickly.
- Donna in Eastover NC
Totally thrilled on all fronts, delivery, price and the goods!
- Westy in New York
These Grumbacher brushes are excellent. I plan on picking up a few more. It got to me fast, too.
- AZ in Oklahoma City, OK
Free Download for Kids

Download free coloring book pages Download FREE coloring
book pages to color at
home or school.

View Pages »