Gustave Courbet (1819-1877)The Origin of the World, Oil on canvas, H. 46; W. 55 cm
“Fine art is knowledge made visible.” Gustave Courbet
Gustave Courbet was a realism painter born on June 10, 1819, in France. He started taking painting lessons at the age of fourteen. Eventually, he relocated to Paris which allowed him to practice his art by copying many of the iconic paintings displayed in the Louvre. His professional breakthrough came in 1848, when ten of his paintings were accepted into a Paris salon.

Courbet’s paintings are known for depicting realistic scenes from every day life.
Realism rejected many of the art genres that came before it to instead focus on the every day, real situations rather than romanticized fantasy or imagery. Capturing the truth in a piece of art was the goal.

I chose this piece of art because it is the most blatantly erotic piece that I came across. I will have to admit initial shock that something so blatantly sexual was done by such a well known hand. Only after researching the rest of my chosen paintings did I realize how common erotic art was through the ages.


I love the simplicity of this painting, and how in your face it is.

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