Killing a Deer
Gustave Courbet · 1867
Why it's great
A hunter pulls a deer from a stream in a snowy forest, with a hunting horn and hound beside him. Courbet loved his native forest and painted many hunt scenes. The dark, rich shadows and glittering water show his skill. It's a bold, realistic image of country life.
Where to see it
📍 Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de BesançonBesançon, France
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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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.
