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Gustave Courbet Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Gustave Courbet our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Gustave Courbet · 1819 – 1877

The origin of the world

1866 · Musée d'Orsay, Paris · original 46 x 55 cm

Discover Gustave Courbet’s ‘The Origin of the World,’ a revolutionary 1866 nude painting. Explore realism, controversy & masterful technique – a statement piece for discerning collectors.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17534 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22055 × 46 cm Commission at original size

The Stone Breakers

1849 · original 165 x 257 cm

Explore Gustave Courbet’s ‘The Stone Breakers,’ a pivotal Realist masterpiece depicting rural labor. Discover its historical context & technical brilliance – a timeless work of art.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20040 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

Woman with a Parrot

1866 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 130 x 196 cm

Discover Gustave Courbet’s "Woman with a Parrot." A revolutionary realist masterpiece featuring a reclining nude & parrot. Explore its symbolism & timeless beauty – perfect for art lovers.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17539 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$888196 × 130 cm Commission at original size

The Hunt Breakfast

1858 · Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne · original 207 x 325 cm

Explore Gustave Courbet’s ‘The Hunt Breakfast’! A stunning Realist oil painting capturing rural camaraderie & authentic 19th-century life. Discover its history & artistic legacy.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$37540 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

Nude with Flowering Branch

1863 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 75 x 61 cm

Discover Gustave Courbet’s ‘Nude with Flowering Branch.’ A revolutionary realist masterpiece blending naturalism & Impressionistic touches. Explore its symbolism, technique & historical significance – perfect for discerning collectors.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$28161 × 75 cm Commission at original size

View of Ornans

1850 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 73 x 92 cm

Experience Gustave Courbet’s ‘View of Ornans’ (1850), a pivotal realist landscape capturing the rugged beauty of Franche-Comté. This iconic painting showcases Courbet's dedication to portraying everyday life with meticulous detail and earthy tones, now available as a stunning hand-painted reproduction.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$34392 × 73 cm Commission at original size

Panoramic View of the Alps, Les Dents du Midi

1877 · Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · original 151 x 209 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1063209 × 151 cm Commission at original size

Woman with a Parrot

1866 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 130 x 196 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17539 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$888196 × 130 cm Commission at original size

The Woman in the Waves

1868 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 65 x 54 cm

Gustave Courbet’s ‘The Woman in the Waves’ (1868) is a monumental Realist masterpiece capturing raw beauty & human emotion amidst turbulent seas. Explore its symbolism, technique & challenge to artistic conventions.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$24954 × 65 cm Commission at original size

Burial at Ornans

1849 · Musée d'Orsay, Paris · original 315 x 668 cm

Explore Gustave Courbet’s ‘A Burial at Ornans,’ a monumental Realist painting depicting rural French life. Discover its innovative techniques & social commentary.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$72547 × 21 cm Commission this artwork

Self-Portrait (Man with Pipe)

1848 · Musée Fabre, Montpellier · original 45 x 37 cm

Gustave Courbet

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$19537 × 45 cm Commission at original size

The Source

1868 · Musée d'Orsay, Paris · original 128 x 97 cm

Discover Gustave Courbet’s ‘The Source’! A breathtaking Realist oil painting of a serene nude figure by the water. Explore nature & beauty in this iconic 1868 masterpiece.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$50997 × 128 cm Commission at original size

Self-Portrait with Black Dog

1842 · Musée du Petit Palais, Paris · original 46 x 56 cm

A soulful encounter between man and canine unfolds in Gustave Courbet's 1842 masterpiece Self-Portrait with Black Dog, a profound Realist work that invites you to explore the raw beauty of this timeless oil painting.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22256 × 46 cm Commission at original size

The Fishing Boat

1865 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 65 x 81 cm

A rugged coastal scene captures the raw spirit of Realism in Gustave Courbet's The Fishing Boat, a masterpiece of textured brushwork and atmospheric light that invites you to bring this piece of history into your home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$30181 × 65 cm Commission at original size

The Source

1862 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 120 x 74 cm

Gustave Courbet’s ‘The Source’ (1862) is a revolutionary Realist masterpiece depicting a nude woman before a waterfall, challenging artistic conventions and celebrating raw beauty & nature's power.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17525 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$40774 × 120 cm Commission at original size

Hunting Dogs with Dead Hare

1857 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 93 x 149 cm

A raw and visceral display of Realism, Gustave Courbet's 1857 masterpiece Hunting Dogs with Dead Hare captures the intense beauty of nature through textured brushwork, inviting you to bring this powerful scene into your home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17540 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$551149 × 93 cm Commission at original size

Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone)

1855 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 116 x 89 cm

Courbet’s depiction of a horsewoman defies societal norms, symbolizing strength and modernity. The painting is part of the Havemeyer Collection and explores themes of identity and social change.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$44989 × 116 cm Commission at original size

Self-Portrait (Man with Leather Belt)

1845 · Musée d'Orsay, Paris · original 100 x 82 cm

Explore Gustave Courbet’s ‘Self-Portrait (Man with Leather Belt)’ – a pivotal Realist masterpiece. Discover its introspective style, dramatic lighting & historical significance at the Musée d'Orsay.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$38782 × 100 cm Commission at original size

After the Hunt

1859 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 236 x 186 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1417186 × 236 cm Commission at original size

Portrait of Hector Berlioz

1850 · Musée d'Orsay, Paris · original 61 x 48 cm

Gustave Courbet's 'Portrait of Hector Berlioz,' a poignant Realist depiction of the composer, captures his solemn gaze and embodies Romantic ideals while rejecting idealized portrayals—a masterpiece housed in Musée d'Orsay.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$23248 × 61 cm Commission at original size

Young Women from the Village

1851 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 195 x 261 cm

Gustave Courbet's 'Young Women from the Village' captures rural life with earthy tones & realism. Explore this iconic 1852 masterpiece, a pivotal work in French art history.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

The Shaded Stream (or The Puits Noir Stream)

1865 · Musée d'Orsay, Paris · original 94 x 135 cm

Gustave Courbet's "The Shaded Stream" captures serene nature with earthy tones & textural details. A masterpiece of Realism, it reflects his fascination with the natural world and its depiction in art. Explore this iconic painting today!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$517135 × 94 cm Commission at original size

Hollyhocks in a Copper Bowl

1872 · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gustave Courbet's 'Hollyhocks in a Copper Bowl' captures poignant beauty through somber realism. Explore the painting’s context, technique & significance at ArtsDot.com.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

The Stone Breaker

1849 · original 45 x 54 cm

Gustave Courbet

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$21854 × 45 cm Commission at original size

The Quarry

1857 · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Explore Gustave Courbet’s monumental Realist masterpiece, ‘The Quarry,’ depicting a hunter's pursuit of deer amidst the Jura Mountains. Admire its meticulous detail and profound symbolism at the MFA Boston.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Gustave Courbet

1819 – 1877

Quick facts

Color intensitymonochromatic, balanced
Museums on APSThe Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Städel Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Nationalmuseum
Creative periodsmature period
Top 3 worksThe origin of the world, The Stone Breakers, Woman with a Parrot
Also known asJean Desire Gustave Courbet, Gi︠u︡stav Kurbe, Gust. Courbet, G. Courbet, Courbet
Copyright statusPublic domain
Died1877
Mediumsoil on canvas

Biography

The Life and Identity of Gustave Courbet

Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet was born on June 10, 1819, in Ornans, France. He was the eldest child and only son of Régis and Sylvie Oudot Courbet. Growing up in the department of Doubs, his early years were shaped by the landscape of his home. He lived through a period of significant social change in France, eventually becoming the leader of the Realism movement. His approach to painting was defined by a refusal to look away from the unvarnished truth of the world around him.

His life was marked by a certain stubbornness toward the established order. He did not seek to paint the myths or the idealized figures favored by the academies. Instead, he focused on the tangible. He looked at the grit of the earth and the heavy fatigue of the people who worked it. This commitment to the real was not a mere choice of subject, but a way of seeing that challenged the very foundations of 19th-century painting. He remained a figure of defiance until his death on December 31, 1877.

Early Life, Family and Training

The quiet village of Ornans, France, provided the backdrop for his beginnings. He grew up in a household alongside his sisters, Zoé, Zélie, and Juliette. While his path was not predetermined, his mother saw his inclination toward drawing and offered the encouragement needed to follow that impulse. This early support helped steer him away from other pursuits and toward the canvas.

In 1839, he moved to Paris. The city offered a different kind of education than the one found in the countryside. He spent much of his time in the Louvre, studying the works of the old masters. This period of observation was not spent in isolation; he also gained practical experience through work in various studios. He spent time in the studios of Steuben and Hesse, and later worked in the studios of Nicolas-Auguste and Suisse. These years were spent learning the mechanics of his craft through direct contact with the tools and methods of established painters.

The Development of a Realist Style

Courbet turned away from the polished finish of academic conventions and the dramatic ideals of Romanticism. He chose to prioritize observation over imagination, seeking to depict the world without embellishment. This meant looking at what was actually present rather than what tradition suggested should be there. He focused on the truth of the subject, often choosing to present the mundane and the unidealized as his primary focus.

His approach to the canvas was physical and direct. He favored an impasto style, applying paint thickly to emphasize the materiality of the medium itself. Using both the brush and the palette knife, he built up layers that gave the surface a tangible, heavy quality. Rather than blending colors into smooth transitions, he used fine brushstrokes to create clear borders. This technique allowed him to capture the grit and texture of his subjects with a sense of immediacy.

The Stone Breakers (1849–50)
A Burial at Ornans (1849–50)
The Meeting or Bonjour Monsieur Courbet (1854)

Major Works and Artistic Achievements

The brushwork often feels heavy, as if the paint itself carries the weight of the subject. In 1849, he finished The Stone Breakers, a depiction of manual labor that was later destroyed during World War II. He brought the provincial life of his home to the public eye in 1850-51 with A Burial at Ornans. This large canvas presented a funeral without the usual polished grace, showing people with faces marked by boredom or resignation. By 1853, his work The Bathers was being shown at the Paris Salon, a piece that caused a stir because of its unidealized female form and the way it sat within a landscape.

His later years saw a shift toward the raw power of the natural world. In 1866, he painted The Origin of the World, a work that focused on the human body with startling closeness. He also captured the movement of the sea in The Wave, completed in 1870. His landscapes often reflected the specific textures of the coast or the cliffs, such as in The Cliffs at Etretat after the Storm, painted in 1869. Even in social scenes like The Meeting, made in 1854, there is a focus on the immediate, unadorned reality of a meeting on a road.

The Painter's Studio (1855)
The Meeting or Bonjour Monsieur Courbet (1854)
The Origin of the World (1866)

Patrons and Artistic Independence

Financial freedom changed the way Courbet approached his canvas. A significant turning point came through his relationship with Alfred Bruyas, a collector who provided the means to work without catering to the tastes of the official salons. Bruyas purchased The Bathers, a decision that helped Courbet move away from the need for institutional approval. This support allowed the artist to maintain a sense of autonomy, choosing his own subjects rather than following the dictates of the academy. Later, Bruyas commissioned The Meeting, also known as Bonjour Monsieur Courbet, which reflected this established connection between patron and painter.

This independence was tested when the official jury rejected his large-scale works. In 1855, rather than retreating, Courbet took a more direct approach to his audience. He built the Pavilion of Realism, a temporary wooden structure located near the official exhibition site. By setting up his own space, he bypassed the gatekeepers of the art world and presented his vision on his own terms. This act of defiance ensured that his work could be seen by the public, regardless of the opinions held by the establishment.

The Bathers
The Meeting

Later Years and Death

The political shifts of 1871 brought a sudden end to his time in Paris. His involvement in the Paris Commune led to a period of exile. He moved across the border to Switzerland, seeking a life away from the immediate turmoil of the French capital. This was not a brief departure; he remained in Switzerland from 1873 until his death.

Life in exile was marked by the weight of his previous actions and the financial burdens imposed upon him. He lived in this quiet landscape, far from the salons and the debates of his youth. The focus of his existence shifted toward the mountains and the stillness of the Swiss terrain. He died in La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland.

Legacy and Influence on Modern Art

The shift from Romanticism toward the modern era found its momentum in the way he handled paint and subject. By choosing to depict the grit of stone and the heavy fatigue of a laborer's brow, he moved art away from the polished myths of the past. This focus on the tangible and the unvarnished provided a foundation for the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. They looked to his method of observing the world directly, rather than through the lens of idealized beauty. Even the Cubists found a connection in his approach to form and the materiality of the medium.

His work carried a weight that went beyond the canvas. By bringing the lives of the working class and the provincial landscape into the center of high art, he changed what was considered worthy of a large-scale painting. This emphasis on social commentary created a path for later artists who used their brushes to engage with the political and social realities of their own times. He did not seek to flatter his viewers, but to show them the world as it actually existed, from the shadows of a forest to the dust of a roadside.

Where to See the Works Today

His canvases are scattered across several major collections, inviting a close look at the textures of his paint. In Paris, the Musée d'Orsay holds 21 of his works, including the large-scale A Burial at Ornans. The Louvre also contains 3 of his pieces, while the Musée du Petit Palais keeps 6. These works allow for a direct encounter with the heavy, impasto layers he applied to the surface.

Across the Atlantic, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York maintains a significant presence of his output with 21 works in its collection. You might find Woman with a Mirror or The Fishing Boat among them. In France, the Musée Fabre in Montpellier holds 12 of his paintings, offering a space to observe the way he handled light and shadow in his portraits and landscapes.

The Meeting or Bonjour Monsieur Courbet (1854)
The Painter's Studio (1855)
The Origin of the World (1866)
The Young Bather (1866)

Questions & Answers

Where can I see Gustave Courbet's artworks in chronological order?

Gustave Courbet's artworks can be seen in chronological order on the artist's Artwork Timeline page.

How many artworks by Gustave Courbet are available to browse?

You can browse 809 artworks by Gustave Courbet on the All Artworks page.

Can I visit a virtual museum of Gustave Courbet's works?

The 3D Museum of Gustave Courbet is a page that displays the artist's artworks in a virtual three-dimensional gallery.

By the ArtsDot.com Editorial Team Updated Oct. 12, 2026

Collector's quiz

In which French village was Gustave Courbet born?
Which art movement did Gustave Courbet lead?
Where did Courbet receive his formal training in 1839?
Which of these works was destroyed during World War II?
In which country did Courbet live during his exile until his death?

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