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Gustave Courbet — Cliff of Etretat (Falaise d'Etretat, la Porte d'Aval)
Gustave Courbet

Cliff of Etretat (Falaise d'Etretat, la Porte d'Aval)

Gustave Courbet's "Cliff of Etretat (Falaise d'Etretat, la Porte d'Aval)" is an oil on canvas painting that captures the dramatic Norman coastal landscape with the artist's characteristic realist approach. The work depicts the iconic rock formation and natural arch at Etretat with bold brushwork and attention to the interplay of light and shadow across the weathered stone. Courbet's composition emphasizes the monumental scale and raw geological power of the cliff face, establishing this subject as a major motif that would later inspire numerous artists including Claude Monet.

Medium
oil on canvas

🔨 Auction Lot

Master Paintings Part I

February 6, 2025

Estimate: $500,000$700,000

Lot 356

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Spotted works by Gustave Courbet

About this work

Gustave Courbet, Cliff of Etretat (Falaise d'Etretat, la Porte d'Aval)

Gustave Courbet's "Cliff of Etretat (Falaise d'Etretat, la Porte d'Aval)" is an oil on canvas painting that captures the dramatic Norman coastal landscape with the artist's characteristic realist approach. The work depicts the iconic rock formation and natural arch at Etretat with bold brushwork and attention to the interplay of light and shadow across the weathered stone. Courbet's composition emphasizes the monumental scale and raw geological power of the cliff face, establishing this subject as a major motif that would later inspire numerous artists including Claude Monet.

Medium
oil on canvas
Seen at
Sotheby's, New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris

Related themes

Seascape, Dramatic natural scenery, 19th Century, Naturalistic Style, French Artist, Large Scale Painting, Coastal Landscape, Realism, Romantic Mood, Oil on Canvas

More works by Gustave Courbet

Collected by

Cleveland Museum of Art