A framed painting by Gustave Courbet entitled "The Cliffs at Etretat".

Jean Desire Gustave Courbet (10 June 1819 to 31 December 1877) was a French painter who led the Realist movement in 19th-century French painting. The Realist movement bridged the Romantic movement (characterized by the paintings of Theodore Gericault and Eugene Delacroix) with the Barbizon School and the Impressionists. Courbet occupies an important place in 19th century French painting as an innovator and as an artist willing to make bold social commentary in his work.