Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by Gustave Courbet. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts an unidentified man, presented in the conventions of mid-nineteenth-century French portraiture.
The painting depicts an unidentified man, presented in the conventions of mid-nineteenth-century French portraiture. The work is classified as a portrait genre piece, with the male sitter serving as its main subject.
As a character study rather than a commissioned likeness of a named individual, the painting reflects Gustave Courbet's Realist interest in ordinary people as worthy subjects for serious painting. The straightforward depiction of a single male sitter aligns with the Realist emphasis on direct, unidealized observation of everyday individuals, treating the anonymous man as a legitimate focus for artistic attention.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 41.3 × 33.3 cm. As a portrait executed in 1862, it exemplifies Gustave Courbet's realist approach to the genre, depicting a male subject with direct, unidealized presence typical of his mid-career portraiture. The relatively modest dimensions suggest an intimate format, consistent with personal or bust-length portraits of the period.
History & Provenance
Gustave Courbet executed this oil on canvas portrait in 1862. The work depicts an unidentified male subject and measures 41.3 by 33.3 centimeters. At some point following its creation, the painting entered the collection of Louisine Havemeyer. It is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Overview
Gustave Courbet's Portrait of a Man, painted in 1862, exemplifies his commitment to Realism. This oil painting captures an individual with directness, reflecting the artist's rejection of idealized or romanticized depictions prevalent in 19th-century French art. It serves as a testament to Courbet's focus on observable reality, a cornerstone of the movement he helped define. The work is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Context
As a leading figure in 19th-century French Realism, Gustave Courbet consciously moved away from the prevailing Romantic and academic traditions of his era. His artistic practice championed the portrayal of everyday life and ordinary people, rendered with an objective eye. Portrait of a Man embodies this revolutionary approach, asserting the validity of depicting subjects precisely as they appeared, free from embellishment or dramatic interpretation.
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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.
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