Mère Grégoire 1855

"Mère Grégoire" (1855) is a realist portrait by French painter Gustave Courbet. The painting depicts a woman, likely a peasant, named Mère Grégoire, in a simple, domestic setting. Courbet is known for his focus on everyday subjects and his rejection of academic art conventions. The painting captures the sitter's plainness and honesty, highlighting the stark realities of rural life in 19th-century France. Courbet's realist style and attention to detail give the work a sense of immediacy and authenticity, challenging traditional portraiture conventions.