The Calm Sea 1869

Gustave Courbet made this painting, The Calm Sea, with oil paint on canvas. Look closely, and you’ll see the materiality of the paint itself. He loaded the brush generously, applying it in thick strokes. Courbet was particularly interested in representing the real world. He worked ‘en plein air’ – in the open air – to directly capture the effects of light and atmosphere. This method was unusual at the time, and Courbet’s emphasis on the physical properties of paint broke with academic tradition. It called attention to the act of painting itself. There’s a ruggedness to the application which mirrors the hard labor often associated with life by the sea. The boats, pulled up on the beach, speak to this directly. So, next time you see a painting, don’t just look at the image. Think about the material and the making, and how these choices give the work its full meaning.