Artwork
Portrait of a Young Girl
Portrait of a Young Girl is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Gustave Courbet. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
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- Inscribed:lower left: .57 G. Courbet.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.
Executed in 1857, this portrait by Gustave Courbet is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 60.4 cm in height and 52.5 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the piece utilizes traditional materials to depict its subject, though specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, surface condition, or distinct stylistic handling are not provided in the available records. The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Young Girl is an oil on canvas portrait painted by Gustave Courbet in 1857, measuring 60.4 cm × 52.5 cm. The work first entered the collection of the Parisian collector Gustave Cahen, who sold it at the Galerie Georges Petit in Paris on 24 May 1929, where it was offered as Portrait de jeune femme (lot 59). It was subsequently acquired, possibly through the dealer Étienne Bignou, by the American philanthropist Chester Dale (1883–1962) of New York, whose bequest transferred the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1963. A photograph of the painting survives in albums from the Bignou Gallery held at the Musée d'Orsay's documentation center, with a copy in the NGA curatorial files. No evidence of a specific commission or patron is recorded, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Painted by Gustave Courbet in 1857, Portrait of a Young Girl exemplifies the artist's commitment to Realism. This oil on canvas work presents a direct depiction, characteristic of a movement that sought to portray life without idealization. Courbet, a prominent figure in 19th-century French art, consistently challenged academic traditions by focusing on observable reality.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a young girl, rendered with a brown hat, matching coat, and a white collar framing her curly brown hair. Her expression and posture are presented without dramatic embellishment, reflecting the Realist principle of depicting ordinary individuals. This straightforward portrayal aligns with Courbet's rejection of idealized subjects, instead favoring the unvarnished appearance of everyday life.
Legacy
As a leading proponent of 19th-century Realism, Courbet's approach profoundly influenced subsequent art movements. His dedication to direct observation and the depiction of unembellished reality laid groundwork for artists who would later develop Impressionism and Cubism. This commitment to portraying subjects as they appeared, often with an underlying social commentary, marked a significant departure from established artistic norms.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet (UK: KOOR-bay; US: koor-BAY; French:; 10 June 1819 – 31 December 1877) was a French painter who led the Realism movement in 19th-century French painting.
