The Wheat Sifters
Gustave Courbet · 1854
Why it's great
A woman kneels to sift grain in a barn while her brother and a younger sibling work beside her. Courbet painted ordinary farm work in warm golden tones, in a large canvas that usually would have been reserved for gods. It was part of his movement to paint real life. It shows the dignity of everyday jobs.
Where to see it
📍 Nantes Museum of ArtsNantes, France
Open in Maps ↗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.
