The Stone Breakers, by Gustave Courbet, was painted in 1850 as a statement towards realism in art. Courbet was a French painter who led the realist movement during the nineteenth century. Realism made the bridge between the Romantic Movement and the impressionists. The 1800’s are when the French revolution took place, and this must have been a major reason why Courbet would want to paint the people realistically. The proletariat was looked down upon in society so Courbet showed their life as it truly was. He did not add any glamour because that was how the people lived. This made a great statement towards the revolution and its cause. Courbet was obviously very pro-revolution and he used his art as his revolutionary movement.
Courbet’s style is of course realism, and he depicts the realistic view of the painting by not making anything look prettier than it really is. The workers have tattered clothing and they are obviously straining their bodies trying to move these heavy rocks. Also, one of the workers is too old to be doing hard labor and the other is just a little too young. Courbet does not try to make them look strong or heroic at all, he just shows them as they are. This was the true depiction of how the world as in the 1800’s and that is exactly what Courbet wanted to show us.
The workers in this painting are obviously of the proletariat and they are working hard to move up in the world. These people have discipline and good work ethic, and if they knew how to put that to use in an uprising they could create a society with order and strength. This is the power of the proletariat; they have the ability to run a nation with strength and discipline.
No comments:
Post a Comment