Sunset over Lake Leman 1874

Gustave Courbet painted this view of Sunset over Lake Leman in Switzerland, using oil on canvas, sometime before his death in 1877. Courbet was a leading proponent of Realism, an artistic movement that rejected the dominant Romantic style. Realists sought to depict everyday subjects and events in a direct, unsentimental manner. Here, Courbet captures a fleeting moment of natural beauty with a focus on the specific effects of light and atmosphere. But the painting also implies a political stance. Courbet was deeply involved in left-wing politics and the Paris Commune of 1871. When he painted this landscape, he had been imprisoned and then exiled to Switzerland for his political activities. The painting may reflect Courbet’s desire to escape the turmoil of French society and find solace in nature. To understand it better, we can research the history of Realism, Courbet's political activism, and the social and cultural context of 19th-century France.