Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet (1819–1877) is considered to have introduced the practice of socially engaged painting, and he is viewed as one of the most important repre¬sentatives of Realism. The direct and honest depic¬tions of this artistic tendency—which ascribed to representing things as they are—challenged the ide¬alized subject matter of academic painting and scan¬dalized the Parisian society of the nineteenth century. Courbet became a leading figure of the rebellious ar¬tistic bohème and cultivated a lively exchange with the predominant poets and artists of his era. Howev¬er, he was not merely an anti-establishment provoca¬teur; he significantly revolutionized landscape paint¬ing. With seven essays this volume offers an introduc¬tion to selected aspects of the artist’s life and work. His paintings will also inspire even those who may not be well versed in the world of art. Courbet’s in-credibly rich oeuvre and his exciting biography make him an artist worth discovering, again and again.