Gustave Courbet, "Un enterrement à Ornans"

Summary

The video discusses a monumental painting by Courbet, featuring ordinary people from his village in a historically significant manner. The painting, titled 'Burial at Ornans,' caused a scandal at the Paris Salon due to its large format, traditionally reserved for historical subjects, and its realistic portrayal of common villagers. Courbet’s approach, highlighting the equal importance of these figures, shocked the bourgeois audience. The artist also used modern exhibition techniques, showcasing the work in his hometown and charging for entry. The video highlights Courbet's skill, use of black tones, and his connection to his native region of Franche-Comté.

Takeaways

• 🖼️ The monumental format of the artwork elevates everyday people from the artist's village to a historical level.
• 📜 The original title of the painting emphasized its depiction of a historical human scene, particularly a burial in Ornans.
• 😲 The artwork created a scandal at the Paris Salon due to its large format and lack of idealization of the characters, which were portrayed with great realism.
• 🎨 The red eyes of the mourners in the painting became a focus for caricaturists and commentators, highlighting the raw, unembellished portrayal of grief.
• ⚖️ The painting's egalitarian composition places peasants on the same level as bourgeois figures, challenging the traditional hierarchy of representation.
• 🏛️ In the 19th century, large formats were typically reserved for history paintings, but Courbet used this scale for what was considered a 'genre scene'.
• 👨‍🎨 Courbet granted the historical painting format to a simple rural scene, breaking with convention and redefining the visibility and significance of such scenes.
• 💰 Courbet also modernized the exhibition process by showcasing his work first in his hometown of Ornans, then organizing paid exhibitions in Besançon and Dijon.
• 🖤 Both Courbet and another artist (unnamed in the transcript) shared a mastery of pictorial science, especially their treatment of dark tones in large-scale works.
• 🏞️ Courbet's deep connection to the regions of Franche-Comté and Burgundy influenced his work, with a strong focus on the human figure.

Q & A

What is the significance of the large format in Courbet's painting?

The large format of Courbet's painting elevates a seemingly mundane event, like the burial in his village, to the status of historical art. This monumental scale, typically reserved for grand historical or religious subjects, challenges the traditional hierarchy of art.

Why did Courbet's painting 'An Enterrement à Ornans' cause a scandal at the time?

The painting caused a scandal because it depicted everyday people in a large, historical format, without idealization. The unflattering realism of the characters, such as their red eyes, was controversial and seen as shocking by the Parisian bourgeois public.

How did Courbet challenge artistic conventions with this painting?

Courbet broke conventions by using a format typically reserved for history painting to depict a genre scene. This decision to give a rural funeral the same importance as mythological or religious events was radical for 19th-century art.

What does the term 'equalitarianism' refer to in this context?

In this context, 'equalitarianism' refers to Courbet's approach of placing ordinary rural people on the same level as the bourgeoisie in his composition, emphasizing the equality of all individuals, regardless of social class.

Why was the use of large formats typically reserved for historical painting in the 19th century?

In the 19th century, large formats were typically used for historical painting to depict grand, heroic, or religious subjects from mythology, history, or scripture. It was considered inappropriate to use such a scale for everyday scenes or genre paintings.

What is unique about Courbet's approach to the visibility and exhibition of his work?

Courbet took a modern approach to exhibiting his work by organizing public displays in multiple cities, such as Ornans, Besançon, and Dijon. He even charged admission to view his painting, a progressive idea for art exhibitions at the time.

How did Courbet's painting challenge the bourgeois view of art?

Courbet's painting challenged bourgeois sensibilities by presenting ordinary, rural people without idealization in a format typically reserved for heroic or historical subjects. This broke with the expectations of Parisian bourgeois art audiences.

What role did Courbet's connection to his hometown play in his art?

Courbet's deep connection to his hometown, Ornans, is reflected in his painting. He depicted local villagers as models for his works and even held exhibitions in nearby cities before showing his work in Paris, emphasizing the importance of his roots.

What technical aspects of Courbet's painting were notable?

Courbet's technical skill is evident in his use of dark tones, especially in the depiction of blacks, which is a significant element in 'An Enterrement à Ornans.' His mastery of large formats and his meticulous attention to human figures were also key features.

What similarities did Courbet share with other artists of his time?

Courbet shared a common virtuosity with other contemporary artists, including a deep understanding of pictorial science and a strong emphasis on the human figure. His focus on realism and attention to the common people were also defining characteristics.