Galerie Mont The Origin of the World – Gustave Courbet^ Courbet

The Origin of the World, painted in 1866 by Gustave Courbet, is a daring work that has left its mark on art history. Depicting a female nude in close-up, this painting reveals a woman’s sex with surgical precision, breaking with the conventions of the time. Courbet, a major figure of realism, chose to depict reality without make-up or idealisation. Although the painting can be categorised as a portrait, it transcends this genre to approach an anatomical study, while questioning social taboos. This work, both provocative and revolutionary, illustrates Courbet’s desire to push back the boundaries of artistic representation.

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