Gustave Courbet (French, 1819 - 1877) The Source of the Loue, ca. 1864 Oil on canvas, 42 _ x 54 1/8" Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery George B. and Jenny R. Mathews Fund, 1959

Are there any natural areas near Buffalo that you think are fun and interesting places to go? How about a very big waterfall? Gustave Courbet grew up in an area of France that has many natural wonders. This is a huge cave from which a river flows. We are told by the title that it is the Loue (loo) River. The title also mentions the "source," which would be where the river begins. The source of the Loue River is somewhere underground, which makes the site very mysterious. No one knows exactly where the river begins, but it appears above ground at this cave, then flows through Ornans, the town where the artist was born.

How do you think Mr. Courbet painted this to make the rocks look rough and wet? What did you notice first about the painting? Use your imagination. Go inside the cave. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? Do you like being inside or do you want to get out?

Mr. Courbet only painted things that he knew about and could see. This meant he did not paint scenes from history, places he had never been to, or people he hadn't actually seen. Many artists painted scenes from the Bible, but Mr. Courbet said, "I cannot paint an angel since I have never seen one." Do you think this is a good idea for an artist? Does this let the artist use his or her imagination enough? Does this let the artist use his or her imagination at all?