Not only is the subjects ones that could be seen any day of the week Courbet forced the viewer to confront hardships of life which they would gladly turn away from. It is for this reason that this realist was such a thorn in the side of the bourgeoisie. At a time when the people of France were fighting for their independence the ruling class was being forced to take a clear look at life in its purest form.
The Stone Breakers depicts a task that by the differences of the men’s clothing shows that it has been going on for a very long time and will not stop soon. The older man seems to depict how from the beginning he has worked a hard job for little pay and less recognition. The younger man is new to this life. His clothing shows that he once had a higher paying job and could afford finer things. The job of providing stone dust for roads was hard labor and no man wanted to have it or pay attention to those that did.
The Burial at Ornans depicts the burial of a revolutionary and although the book refers to it as a homage to his maternal grandfather it seems to respect the deaths of all revolutionaries. The inclusion of a portrait of the man when he was alive seemingly in attendance of his own funeral surrounded by the clergy whom seem not to care shows how little the revolution to meant to the rich and wealthy. This burial is better attended by the men closest to the grave as it seems they are the only ones who care and are willing to give their lives just as quickly.
These paintings speak of everyday life amongst the poorest and yet most willing to fight for their freedom. They force the government to take a close and clear look at how they treat the people they rule. Realism is a recording of everyday events through the eye of the artist whom lives them. The bourgeoisie would have rather lived in their world of ease and wealth without having to acknowledge the suffering around them.
I think it's also interesting to consider how these paintings were offensive because they are different from the academic tradition (which values historical/mythological paintings). Instead of depicting something from the past, realist painters want to depict the here-and-now.
ReplyDeleteCourbet also chooses to paint his everyday scenes in a very grand scale (these canvases are very large, especially "A Burial at Ornans"). Typically, large-scale paintings were only reserved for history painting. By depicting his figures on such large canvases, Courbet implies that his subjects, too, are very important.
-Prof. Bowen
Art that makes us take another look at the horrors and injustices in our world is the most important art in my opinion. One can speak or write of poverty and make a great impact. But when a visual representation of the wrongs around us can be far more impactful and moving. I think it's important for artists, as members of our society, to consider this and at one point in their careers to make something that reflects their personal concerns with the way the world is today. Art can make great changes. It is a very useful tool in educating people of what life is like outside of their own.
ReplyDeleteI can grasp the idea that this was a low man's job in the Stonebreaker painting. Finding that "realism" in this painting is not hard as it depicts a good portion of what the poor had to go through, but it to me doesn't depict total hopelessness. I enjoy reading what others have said and I appreciate the mainstream point of view. Life to me comes in stages and whether we are educated or not, you get what you put in. I don't have the mainstream negative outlook everyone else does. Maybe I'm just the eternal optimist, that or an idiot. Either way, I enjoyed your blog.
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