A Burial at Ornans by Gustave Courbet (Interpretation and Analysis)

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A Burial at Ornans 
Source: Wikimedia Commons

I am of two minds when it comes to Realism in art. While I generally believe that art should portray the details of real life and not shy away from the gritty aspects of reality, it is undoubtable that less realistic art is often more fun and enjoyable to look at. Yet, however you feel about Realism in art, it is impossible to deny that Realism plays a crucial role in the history of art.

The Realist movement in Europe was pioneered in the mid-nineteenth century by French artists, including Gustave Courbet, who is widely considered to be one of the great masters of European Realism. The Realist movement was a reaction against the drama and emotional excesses of Romanticism and the pomp and stoicism of Neo-Classicism. Instead, the Realists sought to capture the reality of everyday life, complete with mundane and unpleasant details.

Courbet’s A Burial at Ornans is one of the most famous paintings of this age (although Courbet and his art were virtually unknown when he was actually working). The painting depicts a real funeral in Courbet’s home town of Ornans. Courbet’s great-uncle is being buried, and most of the town is in attendance. Members of the clergy, merchants, local officials, and other townspeople are in attendance, as well as members of Courbet’s own family. Each figure in the painting is a real and recognizable individual, painted with hyper-realistic detail.

The painting was heavily criticized at the time for this very reason. Contemporary viewers were shocked that anyone would paint ordinary, unglamorous, and even ugly people on such a grand scale. Yet, it is this extreme honesty that truly makes the painting so interesting and engaging. There is something intensely powerful about this portrait of everyday life, and it transcends the ages.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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