The Calm Sea
Gustave Courbet · 1869
Why it's great
A flat, gray-green sea stretches under a pale sky, with a faint sail on the horizon. Courbet painted the quiet sea with a few bold strokes. It's a very simple and modern scene. It's one of his most peaceful seascapes.
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
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.
