With a vehement commitment to Realism, Gustave Courbet embraced the harsh beauty of the natural world in his landscapes. The French countryside and the islands of Lake Geneva are depicted as Courbet saw them, featuring overcast skies and muddy beaches in rich dark tones, with limestone cliffs rendered sharply using a palette knife. This volume showcases significant works by Courbet, primarily from the Gustave Courbet Institute and the Musée Courbet of Ornans, alongside pieces by other 19th-century artists influenced by his style. It also explores the contributions of art critic George Besson and painter Guy Bardone, who worked to preserve Courbet’s complex legacy by acquiring his birthplace in Ornans and conserving his art. Courbet (1819–77) rejected the Romantic conventions of his time, leading 19th-century painting into Realism. His works depicted ordinary laborers and unidealized landscapes, reflecting the severity of everyday life. Controversial for both his art and politics, he faced censorship and was briefly imprisoned for his role in an insurrection against the Parisian government. Ultimately, Courbet spent his final years in self-imposed exile in Switzerland.
