Proudhon and His Children
Gustave Courbet · 1865
Why it's great
A philosopher sits with a book, as his two little daughters play beside him. Courbet painted his friend Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, who had recently died, and the children. The scene is quiet and affectionate. It's a deeply human portrait.
Where to see it
📍 Petit PalaisParis, France
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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.
