Pomegranates 1871

Gustave Courbet, a French painter, created this oil painting titled 'Pomegranates'. This still life is deceptively simple. Courbet was part of the Realist movement, which aimed to depict subjects honestly, without romanticizing them. But Realism was not just about 'truth'; it was a political stance. In mid-19th century France, the art world was dominated by the Academy, which favored historical and mythological scenes. Courbet and other Realists challenged this hierarchy by painting everyday subjects, like fruit, and in doing so, they questioned the established social and artistic norms. Courbet's choice of subject matter reflects a democratic impulse, suggesting that the ordinary is just as worthy of artistic attention as the grand and heroic. To understand this work fully, we can look to historical documents, art criticism, and the artist's biography. It shows how art is always embedded in a specific time and place, reflecting the values and struggles of its society.