Les Petits Secrets des grands tableaux – Courbet, l’atelier du peintre

Of all the paintings of Gustave Courbet (1819−1877), The Painter’s Studio is undoubtedly the most mysterious. In this work, Courbet portrays the French society of his time. He is offering his own vision, as suggested by his central position in the canvas. ​“It’s the people who come to me to be painted,” he declared. ​“On the right, all the shareholders, that is, friends, fellow workers, devotees of the art world. On the left are the other people from everyday life, the masses, misery, poverty, wealth, the exploited and the exploiters, people who make a living from death.”