Book excerpt: Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) is considered to have introduced the practice of socially engaged painting, and he is viewed as one of the most important representatives of Realism. The direct and honest depictions of Realist painters challenged the idealized subject matter of academic painting and scandalized the Parisian society of the nineteenth century. Courbet became a leading figure of the rebellious artistic bohemia and cultivated a lively exchange with the predominant poets and artists of his era. However, he was not merely an anti-establishment provocateur; he significantly revolutionized landscape painting. With seven essays, this volume offers an introduction to selected aspects of the artist's life and work. His paintings will also inspire even those who may not be well versed in the world of art. Courbet's incredibly rich oeuvre and his exciting biography make him an artist worth discovering again and again.