Soleil Couchant, Marine, Gustave Courbet

The oil landscape Soleil Couchant, Marine by Gustave Courbet is a piece that depicts a fiery red sunset sky over a cool gray sea. Courbet was a leader of the realism movement in the mid 1800s, and in this piece, he created a burning picture of the evening, with its intention being to create a calming image. I can see this representation, but I see something else, too. I see something much more saddening and ominous in the orange and red swath of the image. This was most likely far from Courbet’s intention when he painted the landscape, but I see something somewhat prophetic. I think that this picture represents what the world would be like if we don’t take action now. Now, you may ask, “What are we supposed to take action against?” Honestly, you can take your pick. There are so many issues plaguing today’s society, and so many of those can and will be truly catastrophic if nothing is done. Even if you don’t call it catastrophic, they will still cause huge problems across the nation and the globe. From women’s rights to racial equality to something as widespread and imminent as global warming, so much needs to be done for the world, and it is up to all of us to work for it. I see the world’s many foibles brought to the surface in this artwork, and the outburst that their exposure would cause. As I mentioned earlier, Courbet’s intentions for the piece were most likely far from my vision, but I see all of our faults and their results inside of it. Even though it looks like just another pretty sunset, I can see the chaos hiding beneath the surface. This has been Rhett Sullivan with another Bulldog Art Tour.