Le Moulin 1874

"Le Moulin," painted by Gustave Courbet in 1874, depicts a serene scene of a watermill nestled in a wooded valley. Courbet was a prominent French realist painter who rejected the romanticized themes of the Academy, opting to depict everyday life in a straightforward manner. The painting’s realistic details, such as the rough stone of the mill and the flowing water, capture the beauty of the natural world. The composition, with its focus on the mill and the surrounding landscape, emphasizes the harmony between human activity and nature. Courbet's “Le Moulin” is a prime example of his dedication to realism, offering a glimpse into the rural life of 19th-century France.