Seascape, the Poplar 1873

"Seascape, the Poplar" (1873) by Gustave Courbet, depicts a stormy seascape with powerful waves crashing against the rocky shore. The single poplar tree in the foreground, with its branches bent by the wind, adds a sense of solitude and resilience to the scene. Courbet, a leading figure in the Realism movement, was known for his direct and unidealized depictions of nature. The painting is a testament to his mastery of capturing the raw power of the natural world.