Bunch of Grapes
1871
Gustave Courbet painted this lush, heavy cluster of grapes while confined in a Parisian prison in 1871. Stripped of his grand landscapes and political freedom after his controversial involvement with the Paris Commune, the father of Realism turned to humble subjects right in front of him. Notice how the thick, almost sculptural brushstrokes make the fruit look like you could reach out and pluck a juicy grape right off the canvas. It stands as a surprisingly defiant burst of life and texture from a man who was literally behind bars, proving that even in captivity, his bold artistic vision remained completely unchained.
Views: 6