Breton spinner 

Gustave Courbet's "Breton Spinner" depicts a woman in traditional garb sitting by a stream, lost in thought as she spins yarn. The painting's composition creates a sense of solitude, highlighting the woman's isolation against a dramatic sunset sky. The use of thick, impasto brushstrokes and a muted palette are characteristic of Courbet's realist style, known for portraying everyday life in a raw and unidealized manner. This painting reflects Courbet's focus on the lives of ordinary people and the beauty of nature.