Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet was a French painter born in 1819 and active until his death in 1877. He is best known as a leading figure in the Realism movement, which sought to depict everyday life and ordinary people with honesty and accuracy. Courbet's works, such as "The Stone Breakers" and "A Burial at Ornans," challenged the conventions of academic art and emphasized the importance of individual experience. His bold approach to subject matter and technique had a profound influence on subsequent generations of artists, paving the way for modern art. Courbet was also politically active, participating in the Paris Commune of 1871, which ultimately led to his exile. His legacy continues to resonate in contemporary discussions of realism and representation in art.