The Stream (Le Ruisseau du Puits-Noir; vallée de la Loue)
1855 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
An oil on canvas painting depicting a shaded, rocky stream in the Loue valley. This work is characteristic of Courbet's focus on the rugged landscapes of his native Franche-Comté.
Did you know?
Courbet was a leader of the Realist movement, which rejected the idealized imagery of the Romantic school in favor of raw, unembellished depictions of nature and everyday life. The 'Puits-Noir' or 'Black Well' was a favorite haunt of the artist, and he produced several variations of this specific gorge, celebrating the wild, untamed beauty of the Jura Mountains.
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The Stream (Le Ruisseau du Puits-Noir; vallée de la Loue)
Gustave Courbet, 1855
