Gustave Courbet's "The Stonebreakers" (1849)

                    Gustave Courbet was an entrepreneurial painter during the mid-19^th century; he was one of the founders of the realist movement (Fernier), which is depicted in his style. Europe, during the 19th century, had still clung to recycling famous and classical themes in their paintings rather than focusing on the events that surrounded them. Courbet was one of the first who realized this, and countered the outdated system by accurately portraying the lifestyles of working class peasants and farmers in his paintings, which roused animosity against him amongst artists and critics due to its inelegant nature (Fernier). 

                    The Stonebreakers realizes Courbet’s aim of informing the masses about the harsh existence of peasant workers during his time by revealing the trying conditions that miners had to face, so as to encourage people to aid them (Fernier). This painting shows two peasants, a boy and a grown man, in tatters, slaving away on boulders with mallets. From a cursory glance, we immediately realize the depth and sharpness of the canvas; the painting is rigidly detailed to the point where it is devoid of any romanticism or drama, a quality that is unique to realism. Secondly, we notice that the colors used are monotonous, which reflects the languishing tone of the painting while the two peasants toil away on stones. This allows Courbet to draw emphasis on the hardship that peasants had to overcome. Third, the manner in which Courbet depicts the boy, who is too young to carry stones, and the man, who is too old to continue breaking stones, demonstrates his sympathy for the disadvantaged workers (Fernier).       

                     

                    Both poverty and industrialism are represented in this scene. Unfortunately, impoverished farmer and peasant workers during the Industrial Revolution were subject to frequent eviction and abuse by capitalists and factory owners. Most peasants were forced into industries, where underage children and women were exploited by being given treacherous jobs, with miniscule wages (“Industrial Revolution”). The Stonebreakers reflects Courbet’s disgust with the system’s abuse of people who are too weak or unfit for duty by showcasing the agony of their work, whereas his style and clever usage of mellow colors rouse pity for the sufferers. Courbet’s works inspired future impressionists and modernists to focus their themes more on modern events, and suggested a new innovativeness that would then take hold of modern art.

Fernier, Robert. "Gustave Courbet." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/140530/Gustave-Courbet>.

"Industrial Revolution." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/287086/Industrial-Revolution>.