River and Rocks
The Met
Artist: Gustave Courbet(French, Ornans 1819–1877 La Tour-de-Peilz)
Date: 1873–77
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 19 5/8 x 23 7/8 in. (49.8 x 60.6 cm)
Credit Line: From the Collection of James Stillman, Gift of Dr. Ernest G. Stillman, 1922
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Narrow river flowing between towering, tree-covered cliffs under a cloudy sky
Detailed Description
A vertical landscape shows a river flowing through a rocky gorge under a partially visible sky. The upper half of the composition is dominated by towering cliffs on both sides, with a narrow, dark chasm visible between them in the upper center. The cliffs on the left are lighter in tone, revealing exposed grey and white rock faces interspersed with patches of green foliage and trees. The cliffs on the right are significantly darker, densely covered with deep green and dark brown trees and vegetation, creating a deeply shadowed appearance. The river occupies the lower half of the composition, its surface a dark green with subtle reflections of the sky and surrounding cliffs. Ripples and variations in light are visible across the water. Several dark rocks and what appear to be logs are partially submerged in the river or rest along its banks. The immediate foreground on the right features a small patch of grassy bank with hints of lighter green and a few small yellow flowers. The left bank is also rocky and covered with sparse green growth, with a few individual trees standing near the water's edge. The overall palette is dominated by greens, greys, and dark browns, with a small patch of light blue and white in the sky.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
