Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet (Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet; 1819 – 1877) was a French painter renowned for pioneering the Realism movement. Courbet's style is characterised by its unidealised depiction of everyday life, often portraying peasants, labourers, and rural scenes with a stark, honest approach. He employed oil paint on canvas, utilising a rich palette and bold brushwork to create textured, lifelike images that challenged the romanticised traditions of his time. His works, such as The Stone Breakers and A Burial at Ornans, marked a significant departure from historical and allegorical subjects, focusing instead on the realities of contemporary existence.