A Burial at Ornans
Gustave Courbet · 1840
Why it's great
Courbet painted a funeral in his small hometown on a canvas as big as a history painting. The mourners are ordinary villagers, shown just as they were, without glamor. In 1850 this was shocking, since big canvases were reserved for kings and heroes. It is famous as a landmark of Realism, the idea that everyday people deserve to be painted as important.
Where to see it
📍 Musée d'OrsayParis, France
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Gustave Courbet was born in Ornans, in eastern France, and moved to Paris to become an artist. He led the Realism movement, insisting on painting real people and real life instead of myths. He was outspoken and got into political trouble, and he fled to Switzerland in the end. He died there in 1877.
