Origin of a Stream

Gustave Courbet was a controversial French painter, who bridged the gap between Romanticism and the Impressionist school of painters. He was... more

by Gustave Courbet

Title

Origin of a Stream

Artist

Gustave Courbet

Medium

Digital Art - Digital Reproduction

Description

Gustave Courbet was a controversial French painter, who bridged the gap between Romanticism and the Impressionist school of painters. He was controversial not only because he addressed social issues with his work, such as peasants and the working condition of the poor, and the rural bourgeoisie, but also because of the unsentimental way in which he portrayed them. Unlike the Romantic school of painters, Courbet did not use smooth lines and soft forms. Instead, he employed spontaneous brush strokes and a roughness of paint texture, which indicated that he was observing his subject directly from life, and thus challenging the academic ideas of the way art should be painted. Because of his development of a realistic form of painting, Courbet was a celebrity, and considered a genius, socialist, and savage. He also encouraged the perception of himself as an unschooled peasant.

Uploaded

August 21st, 2013