Le Désespéré
Gustave Courbet · 1840
Why it's great
A young man tears at his hair, his eyes wide, staring straight at us. Courbet painted himself in an exaggerated expression of shock and fear, perhaps acting like a character on a stage. It was his early way to show he could paint strong emotions. It has become one of his best-known self-portraits.
Where to see it
🔒 Private collectionOwned by a person or family, so it isn't usually on public display.
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.
