COURBET GUSTAVE: (1819-1877)

COURBET GUSTAVE: (1819-1877) French Painter. An innovator who rejected academic convention and leaded the French Realist movement. Courbet was active in politics and was imprisoned in 1871 for his involvement with the Paris Commune, having to live in exile in Switzerland until his death. Rare and large signed and inscribed large 16.5 x 20.5 photograph, the sepia impressive image depicting Courbet seated, holding his pipe, in a three-quarter length pose. Signed and inscribed in bold dark ink `Souvenir d´exil´ (''Exile Souvenir''), `Gustave Courbet´, also dated in his hand Geneva 1877, the year of his death. Inscribed to his friend and art dealer Paul Pia. The photograph with inscription to a darker background is 10.5 x 13.5. Very small age tone, otherwise G to VG