Étretat; Les Falaises 1870

Curator: At first glance, I see stillness, strength. It has such a grounded, weighty feel. Editor: Let's consider Gustave Courbet's "Étretat; Les Falaises" created around 1870 using oil paints. It captures the cliffs of Étretat in Normandy, France. It’s an example of realism. What strikes you about the painting's composition, that evokes such a powerful emotional experience? Curator: The immensity of the cliff face on the right dominates everything. The craggy texture speaks to the power of natural erosion and timelessness. But beyond the visual spectacle, it triggers thoughts on the relationship between nature and power. Editor: Indeed, the choice to depict the cliffs from such a low vantage point emphasizes their imposing stature. Considering the period, the artwork emerged from the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War, the landscape embodies the social and political upheaval within French society at the time. The painting’s representation becomes very deliberate: What does Courbet suggest about power? The strength of France as the central figure is not stable—nature itself seems indifferent. Curator: I can see the way the image reflects cultural memory about this time. These natural forms hold significance beyond their geology, embodying this deep cultural awareness of shifting paradigms and endurance despite strife. Those ships feel really small too, by contrast. The relationship that's established with human temporality heightens this image as representative of both fragility and persistence. Editor: This contrast is indeed part of Courbet’s mastery of Realism; to make explicit that interplay between people and nature and historical shifts. What stands out too is the stark tonal contrast to foreground historical changes by drawing on that universal struggle that's set within this regional, geological landscape. What do you take away as we draw our considerations to a close? Curator: Seeing those ancient cliffs reframed through social context provides much greater depth of feeling in an enduring image. It feels intensely relevant today. Editor: For me it underscores how much we still seek symbols within our landscape. The natural world functions as a site to address personal concerns in times of collective conflict.