Falaises Au Bord De La Mer Sous La Neige 

Gustave Courbet created this snow-covered landscape painting, Falaises au bord de la mer sous la neige, during the 19th century in France, likely en plein air. Courbet was a key figure in the Realist movement, which sought to depict the world as it is, not as it should be according to academic or Romantic conventions. Here, he turns his attention to the transient effects of weather on the northern coastline, and uses muted colors and rough brushwork to convey the cold atmosphere. Courbet's commitment to painting scenes from everyday life challenged the hierarchy of genres established by the French Academy, which privileged historical and mythological subjects. By focusing on landscapes, Courbet was democratizing art and breaking away from institutional norms. Historians can look to exhibition records, critical reviews, and the artist's letters to understand the reception of his work. Ultimately, Courbet's work reminds us that art is always shaped by the social and institutional context in which it is created.