Gustave Courbet 

This is a self-portrait etching made by the French artist Gustave Courbet. The figure is presented as a wandering bohemian, a self-aware pose that comments on the identity of the artist in mid-19th century France. Looking closely, we can see how the image creates this meaning. Courbet has given himself the attributes of a traveler, but his dress and upright stance also suggest a man of the people. His confident gaze confronts the viewer, asserting his status as an independent figure. Courbet was a committed republican, and his art often challenged the established norms of the French Academy. The image suggests an artist who is both part of and apart from society. To better understand Courbet's motivations, we can consult his letters and the writings of his contemporaries. This will help us to understand the social and institutional forces that shaped his art, and the ways in which he sought to challenge them. Art is always made in a specific time and place, and we need to be aware of the culture in which it was made.