Gustave Courbet
Gustave Courbet (1819–1877) was a French painter and a pivotal figure in the development of Realism in the 19th century. Born in Ornans, France, Courbet rebelled against the academic standards of his time, choosing instead to paint scenes of everyday life with unflinching honesty. His works often depicted laborers, peasants, and the rural poor in a stark, realistic manner, challenging the romanticized and idealized subjects of earlier art movements. Courbet’s monumental paintings, such as The Stone Breakers (1849) and A Burial at Ornans (1849–1850), were groundbreaking in their scale and subject matter, portraying ordinary people in large, historically significant compositions.
Courbet's commitment to painting reality as he saw it was both revolutionary and controversial, and he became a leader of the Realist movement. His works had a profound influence on later generations of artists, including the Impressionists. Today, Courbet's paintings are held in major institutions worldwide, including the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
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Full Name: Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet
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Birth and Death: 1819–1877
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Profession: Painter
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Influences: Realism, Social Commentary
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Legacy: A pioneer of Realism, Courbet’s works are housed in prominent collections such as the Musée d'Orsay and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
