Self-portrait 1844

Gustave Courbet's "Self-portrait" from 1844 is a striking example of Realism in painting. This self-portrait depicts the artist in a melancholic pose, with his head resting on his hand and his body partially obscured by his cloak. Courbet's use of muted colors and loose brushstrokes adds to the somber tone of the work. The background, a distant landscape, further emphasizes the artist's isolation and introspection, characteristics that would later define the Realist movement.