Lecture Notes: Gustave Courbet's "A Burial at Ornans"

Introduction

• Location: Musée d'Orsay, Paris
• Artist: Gustave Courbet
• Painting: "A Burial at Ornans"
• Significance: Considered by Courbet as his manifesto of painting

Key Themes

Challenge to Traditional Art

• Historical Context: Large paintings traditionally depicted historical, heroic, allegorical, or religious subjects.
• Genre Painting: Courbet presented everyday life on a large canvas, which was unconventional.
• Submission as History Painting: Despite being a genre painting, Courbet submitted it as a history painting, emphasizing contemporary history.

Representation of Modern Life

• Courbet's Belief: Art should represent the artist’s own time and experiences.
• Personal Connection: The painting includes portraits of Courbet’s own family and represents his great-uncle's funeral.

Artistic Statement

• Rural Life in Elite Art World: Bringing ordinary rural experiences into France's elite art environment.
• Oversizing the Ordinary: Highlighting common humanity and ordinary figures.
• Dignity in Labor: The grave and gravedigger are central, giving dignity to simple laborers.

Composition and Style

Realism and Democracy in Painting

• Foreground Figures: Pushed forward, with a grave opening into viewer’s space.
• Horizontal Frieze: Contrasts with vertically oriented traditional paintings.
• Democracy in Painting: Equal treatment of different types of figures (clergy, officials, mourners).

Authenticity and Distraction

• Dog Symbolism: Represents authenticity, like a real-life occurrence.
• Lack of Focal Point: Reflects distractions of everyday life even during significant events.
• Individual Experiences: Figures appear disconnected, emphasizing personal thoughts.

Radical Aspects

• Lack of Interaction: Unlike traditional paintings, figures do not interact or guide a narrative.
• Modern World Context: References to traditional art, like a skull, appear discarded, situating the painting firmly in the modern world.

Courbet's Philosophy

• Concrete Art: Art should represent real and existing things.
• Physical Language: Art consists of visible objects; abstract concepts are not within its realm.
• Famous Quote: "Show me an angel and I'll paint one."

Conclusion

• Impact: Courbet challenged traditional academic norms, promoting realism and authenticity in art.