Jean Desiré Gustave Courbet was a French realism painter, who painted powerful pictures of everyday life events and the lower class peasants. He became a leading figure towards the realism movement during the 19 century. Courbet started out painting self portraits, in Paris. Later he matured artistically after finishing the painting "After the Dinner at Ornans". This painting was shown at the salon of 1843. Later Courbet developed another different style, he now would draw people with the simple lives for an imagery in his art. When submitting his paintings, few were rejected but many where displayed and well known today. Courbet's works of art are an example of realism because they show the true life of an ordinary person, and the emotions of an ordinary citizen.

Jean Desiré Gustave Courbet

Realism Artist

After the Dinner at Ornans.

Courbet's portrait of himself: stressed

Courbet's portrait of himself : relaxed. The Man with the Pipe.

An image of Courbet

The Stone Breakers