{"product_id":"the-stone-breakers-gustave-courbet-1","title":"The Stone Breakers - Gustave Courbet","description":"\u003cp\u003eA seminal work of French Realism, this painting depicts two labourers at work, capturing the physical reality of nineteenth-century manual labour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGustave Courbet painted The Stone Breakers in 1849, marking a shift in European art toward the depiction of everyday labour. The work portrays two figures, an older man and a younger boy, engaged in the arduous task of breaking stones for road construction. Courbet encountered these individuals on a roadside near Ornans and invited them to his studio to pose. By choosing to represent the working class on a scale traditionally reserved for historical or religious subjects, Courbet challenged the academic hierarchies of his time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition focuses on the physical toll of the work. The figures are positioned in a cramped, low-lying space, their bodies angled to accommodate the repetitive motion of the hammer. The palette consists of earthy, muted tones, reflecting the dusty environment of the quarry. The clothing of the figures is worn and patched, providing a direct observation of the poverty experienced by rural labourers in mid-nineteenth-century France. The background is minimal, keeping the viewer's attention on the figures and their tools.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis painting is a primary example of the Realist movement, which sought to document contemporary life without idealisation or romantic sentiment. Courbet rejected the polished finish of the Salon style, opting instead for a textured application of paint that conveys the grit and materiality of the scene. The work was destroyed during the bombing of Dresden in 1945, leaving only photographic records and preparatory studies. This print offers a high-quality reproduction of the original composition, capturing the sombre atmosphere and the direct, unvarnished approach to the subject matter that defined Courbet's career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/fr\/products\/the-man-with-the-hoe-jean-francois-millet-3\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Man with the Hoe by Jean-Francois Millet\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/fr\/products\/the-man-with-the-hoe-jean-francois-millet-2\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Man with the Hoe by Jean-François Millet\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/fr\/collections\/gustave-courbet\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMore by Gustave Courbet →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gustave Courbet","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59474309710159,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59474317115727,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59474317148495,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59474317181263,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59474317214031,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59474317246799,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59474317279567,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59474317312335,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59474317345103,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59474317377871,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59474317410639,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59474317443407,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Stone-Breakers_Poster_CompositorV1_1794393207723.jpg?v=1794439545","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/fr\/products\/the-stone-breakers-gustave-courbet-1","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}