The artwork “Male and Female Deer in the Woods” by Gustave Courbet dates back to 1864. It is an oil painting on canvas that belongs to the Realism movement, and it is categorized under the genre of animal painting. As of the latest information available, this piece is part of a private collection.
In the artwork, Courbet presents a vivid and naturalistic depiction of two deer in a densely wooded landscape. The male deer is portrayed in an attentive pose, its head raised as if alarmed or sniffing the air, showcasing its antlers which blend subtly with the tree branches. Beside it, a female deer is in motion, captured in a moment of graceful activity, possibly startled or engaging with its surroundings. The forest setting is rendered with a sense of depth and shadow, employing a palette congruent with the forest’s natural hues, and demonstrating Courbet’s keen interest in accurately depicting the play of light and shade found in natural environments.
