Landscape with Rocky Cliffs and a Waterfall 1872

Gustave Courbet captured this landscape with rocky cliffs and a waterfall on canvas using oil paints. Immediately striking is the painting’s composition, a balance between the rugged geological forms and the soft, enveloping foliage. The textural contrast here invites us to consider the painting not just as a representation but as an object in itself, with Courbet's brushstrokes building up layers of meaning. Courbet, in his commitment to Realism, was interested in presenting nature without idealization, focusing on the tangible and immediate. This is evident in the way he renders the rocks, their rough surfaces and irregular shapes challenging traditional landscape aesthetics. The subdued palette, dominated by earthy tones and greys, further reinforces this emphasis on the unvarnished truth of the natural world. The waterfall, a focal point, is treated with the same attention to material presence as the rocks, its cascading water rendered with thick, palpable strokes. Here, Courbet not only captures the scene but also embodies a shift towards modern art’s self-awareness, reminding us that we are viewing paint on canvas, an artistic choice, and a conscious engagement with the act of representation itself.