Artwork
Cedar Tree at Hauteville
Cedar Tree at Hauteville is an oil painting by the Realist artist Gustave Courbet. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1868, Cedar Tree at Hauteville is an oil painting by the French Realist Gustave Courbet. The work presents a solitary cedar rendered with meticulous attention to its bark and foliage, set against a modestly illuminated sky and a field of muted greens. It is part of the permanent collection of the Hungarian National Gallery.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a single cedar tree, its trunk and branches rising prominently in the foreground. By isolating the tree within a simple landscape, Courbet emphasizes the tangible presence of nature, aligning with his realist aim to portray observable reality without allegorical embellishment.
Technique & Style
Courbet applies oil paint with visible, energetic brushstrokes that convey the texture of bark and the subtle shifts of light on foliage. The palette is restrained, dominated by earth tones, muted greens and soft blues, reinforcing the naturalistic tone typical of his landscape practice.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Hungarian National Gallery, where it remains on display. Its provenance reflects the broader 19th‑century interest in realist works beyond France, illustrating Courbet’s international reach.
Context
Courbet’s career was marked by a deliberate break from academic conventions, championing subjects drawn from everyday observation. Cedar Tree at Hauteville exemplifies this stance, offering a straightforward, unidealized view of a natural element, consistent with the realist doctrine that shaped mid‑19th‑century French art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet (UK: KOOR-bay; US: koor-BAY; French: ; 10 June 1819 – 31 December 1877) was a French painter who led the Realism movement in 19th-century French painting.
