The Painter's Studio
Gustave Courbet Β· 1850
Why it's great
Courbet shows himself painting a landscape in the center of a huge room, surrounded by friends, models, and the poor on the other side. He called it a 'real allegory' of his life as an artist. The huge scale, usually reserved for history paintings, was a bold statement. It's famous for declaring that a painter's own world is worth painting.
Where to see it
π MusΓ©e d'OrsayParis, 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.
