1819 – 1877
Gustave Courbet, born on June 10, 1819, in Ornans, France, is a leading figure of the Realist movement. Raised in a well-off family, he moved to Paris in 1839 to study painting, inspired by the great masters of the past.
Courbet quickly established himself as a revolutionary artist, rejecting Romanticism in favor of honest depictions of everyday life. Works like “A Burial at Ornans” and “The Stone Breakers” challenged the artistic conventions of the time, portraying ordinary people on large canvases.
Despite criticism and scandals, Courbet continued to innovate with provocative paintings like “The Origin of the World.” His political involvement during the Paris Commune in 1871 cost him dearly: he was imprisoned and forced into exile in Switzerland, where he died on December 31, 1877.
Courbet left an indelible mark on art, paving the way for Impressionism and influencing artists like Manet and Cézanne. His legacy lies in his dedication to artistic freedom and the authentic representation of reality.
