La Bacchante

Gustave Courbet rendered this sensuous reclining nude between 1844 and 1847, early in his career. The subject is a Bacchante, a follower of Bacchus, the god of wine, depicted in languid repose amid a natural setting. Courbet's thick brushwork and rich color palette bring warmth to the flesh tones.

The painting sparked controversy when exhibited at the Salon, with critics divided between admiration and scandal. Courbet would become the leading figure of Realism, rejecting idealized academic painting in favor of unvarnished truth. This early mythological subject hints at the boldness he would later bring to contemporary scenes.