518. School of Gustave Courbet (French, 19th Century), “Evening in Flanders”, c. 1880; oil/canvas, 11" x 14", unsigned. Courbet concentrated on landscapes and hunting scenes from the late 1850s through the 1870s. These landscapes were a precursor to the Impressionist’s concerns with a refuge in leisure and holiday. His spontaneous and widespread application of color, as well as his rendition of the quality of light were also forerunners to the philosophy of the Impressionists. However, Courbet’s landscapes, even in their most decorative form, are not harmless, open, and idyllic. The compositions are sharply defined, the scene surrounded by rock formations and other natural structure, revealing Courbet’s (perhaps sometimes unintentional) concerns with the politics of the time; the independent spirit of regionalism and the autonomy of the provinces against the central powers of the state. These contrasting elements are clearly seen in this work. 2000-3000