Gustave Courbet

Jacob H. Weiller
Sale: Hugo Hebling, Frankfort-sur-le-Main, October 21, 1930, no. 149, illustrated
Arthur Tooth & Sons, London (in 1959)
Mr. and Mrs. David Lloyd Kreeger, Washington, D.C.
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, May 1, 2001, lot 133, illustrated
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Robert Fernier, La vie et L'Oeuvre de Gustave Courbet, Lausanne, 1978, vol. II, pp 66-7, no. 653, illustrated p. 67

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has been recently restored and should be hung as is. The canvas has been lined with a synthetic adhesive. The lining is appropriate and the paint layer is still well-textured. The paint layer has been cleaned, and varnished. It has been retouched in two small spots in the trees in the upper left center and other than this there appear to be no restorations or damages. This picture is in beautiful state.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Snow scenes represented a large portion of Courbet's oeuvre; between the times spent in his native Jura, to his exile in Switzerland, he painted over eighty views of winter. These were long winters and the terrain was characterized by months of a snowy buildup, new snow falling on hard packed snow, ice on the trees, frozen streams and large rocks topped with more snow.  Courbet's interest in repeating this hibernal subject matter most likely resulted from the infinite opportunities the theme provided for him to explore and perfect his painting technique. Above all else, Courbet was a painter and the snow and ice allowed him to display his virtuosity by brushing, layering and scraping paint onto the surface of his canvases, many of which were prepared with a red ground to allow for the darker tones that are often seen peeking through the forest floor beneath the snow.

Courbet's winter scenes rarely show a human presence, but often include animals, such as the young stag, who crosses the stream in the present picture.