Gustave Courbet

The landscape of Ornans, a small town in the Jura region of eastern France, was the physical center of Courbet’s experience of nature. Even after moving to Paris, he retained an emotional and social connection to Ornans, and returned frequently to visit his family.

Working outdoors or in the studio, he often emphasized the striking limestone structures of the area’s valleys and gorges. In this painting, he used a combination of brushes, palette knives, and rags to simulate the textures of rocks and foliage, then carefully inserted a resting deer in the shade of the river bed.