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Spring Flowers by Gustave Courbet

Spring Flowers

Gustave Courbet · 1855

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“Stop and admire this lush bouquet, a prime example of 19th-century Realism. It brings vibrant color and tangible texture to a seemingly simple subject, celebrating the beauty of the natural world without idealization.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

This vibrant still life, "Spring Flowers," bursts with color and texture, inviting a closer look at its carefully arranged bouquet. A profusion of blossoms, from delicate white and pink to rich reds and yellows, spills from a simple vase, suggesting a fresh harvest from a garden. The flowers aren't idealized; instead, they possess a tangible weight and natural imperfection, reflecting the Realism movement that was gaining traction in the mid-19th century. The painting captures a fleeting moment of natural beauty, eschewing grand historical narratives or dramatic scenes for the quiet dignity of everyday subjects. Its lively brushwork and direct presentation highlight the artist's commitment to depicting the world as he saw it, without embellishment.

DETAILS
Artist
Gustave Courbet
Date
1855
Medium
Oil on canvas
Location
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions
23 3/4 x 32 1/4 in. (60.3 x 81.9 cm)
Collection
European Paintings
Credit line
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
ART MOVEMENTS
NaturalismRealism
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Spring Flowers
01

The delicate white petals of the flowers at the top left.

02

The way light catches the individual leaves and stems.

03

The subtle reflections on the surface of the simple vase.

04

The varied textures of the petals, from smooth to ruffled.

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THE ARTIST

Gustave Courbet

1819–1877 · France

Gustave Courbet, the defiant leader of the Realism movement, painted only what he could see, rejecting academic norms and Romanticism.

Read Courbet’s full story
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST

Further Works by Courbet

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Portrait of a Woman, Called Héloïse Abélard Portrait of a Woman, Called Héloïse Abélard 1850 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Monsieur Suisse Monsieur Suisse 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Wooded Landscape Wooded Landscape 1848 · Art Institute of Chicago Mère Grégoire Mère Grégoire 1855 · Art Institute of Chicago The Brook of Les Puits-Noir The Brook of Les Puits-Noir 1855 · Art Institute of Chicago Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone) Woman in a Riding Habit (L'Amazone) 1856 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Rêverie (Portrait of Gabrielle Borreau) Rêverie (Portrait of Gabrielle Borreau) 1862 · Art Institute of Chicago Cliffs on the Sea Coast: Small Beach, Sunrise (Falaise au bord de la mer, vu Petite Plage, soleil levant) Cliffs on the Sea Coast: Small Beach, Sunrise (Falaise au bord de la mer, vu Petite Plage, soleil levant) 1865 · Art Institute of Chicago
EXPLORE THE MOVEMENT

More from Realism

See the movement →
Young Woman Young Woman Millet · 1844 · Art Institute of Chicago The Magic Foot-ball, 'I thought you were wrong,' he said in triumph. 'You said it was nine! Stupid!' The Magic Foot-ball, 'I thought you were wrong,' he said in triumph. 'You said it was nine! Stupid!' Rockwell · 1914 · Norman Rockwell Museum La rendición de Granada La rendición de Granada Ortiz · 1882 · Palace of the Senate
KEEP EXPLORING

More works to explore

Beyond Courbet and Realism: works from the same years, and from the other movements Spring Flowers belongs to.

Woman Feeding Chickens Same movement · Naturalism Woman Feeding Chickens Jean-François Millet · 1850 · Art Institute of Chicago The Cottage by the Roadside, Stormy Sky Same era · 1840s–1870s The Cottage by the Roadside, Stormy Sky Léon-Victor Dupré · 1855 · Art Institute of Chicago C'est peut-être bon...mais c'est égal..., from Les Hippophages, published in Le Charivari, October 23, 1856 Same movement · Naturalism C'est peut-être bon...mais c'est égal..., from Les Hippophages, published in Le Charivari, October 23, 1856 Honoré Daumier · 1856 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Backgammon Players Same era · 1840s–1870s The Backgammon Players Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Souvenir of Tuscany Same movement · Naturalism Souvenir of Tuscany Jean Baptiste Camille Corot · 1845 · Art Institute of Chicago Peace and Plenty Same era · 1840s–1870s Peace and Plenty William Hart · 1855 · New Britain Museum of American Art Joséphine-Éléonore-Marie-Pauline de Galard de Brassac de Béarn (1825–1860), Princesse de Broglie Same era · 1840s–1870s Joséphine-Éléonore-Marie-Pauline de Galard de Brassac de Béarn (1825–1860), Princesse de Broglie Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1853 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Olive Trees Same era · 1840s–1870s Olive Trees Vincent van Gogh · 1853 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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