River Landscape 1869

Gustave Courbet's "River Landscape" uses oil on canvas to create a composition dominated by lush greens and the silvery thread of the river. The scene is divided into roughly three horizontal bands with the dark forest trees above, a middle ground of the riverbank, and the river itself, all rendered with thick, expressive brushstrokes. Courbet's commitment to Realism is evident here in his dedication to capturing the physical reality of the landscape without idealization. Look closely at the texture, you can see how he uses a limited palette of greens, browns, and grays to create a sense of depth and volume. The light, filtering through the trees, reflects on the water’s surface to activate the scene with its subtle modulations. Courbet’s technique mirrors his broader artistic project to reject academic conventions in favour of direct observation and material honesty. He engaged with the philosophical currents of his time by prioritizing the tangible and the experiential. "River Landscape" captures the aesthetic and intellectual dimensions of Courbet's oeuvre.