Artwork
Mère Grégoire
Mère Grégoire is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Gustave Courbet. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Mère Grégoire is an oil on canvas painting by Gustave Courbet, depicting a woman in a serious and proper demeanor, surrounded by elements that suggest a transaction is taking place.
Subject & Meaning
The subject was inspired by 'Madame Grégoire,' a character from a 1820s song by Pierre-Jean de Béranger, known for her association with a house of prostitution. The painting may symbolize freedom and love, with the flower she holds displaying the colors of the French flag.
Technique & Style
Courbet initially painted a simple head on a horizontal canvas in 1855, later expanding it into a complex genre scene between 1857 and 1859, adding details such as a marble-topped counter and a ledger.
History & Provenance
The painting's evolution reflects Courbet's changing vision, with the final work possibly serving as a protest against government censorship and the Second Empire, given Béranger's anti-monarchy stance and Courbet's dissident views.
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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.
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Mère Grégoire