The artwork titled “The Death of the Deer” was created by the notable Realism artist Gustave Courbet between 1866 and 1867. It is an oil on canvas genre painting that measures an impressive 355 x 505 cm. This significant piece reflects the Realism art movement from the 19th century and is currently held in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France.
The artwork depicts a somber winter hunting scene. At the center of the composition lies a defeated deer, overwhelmed and brought to the ground by a pack of hunting dogs. Their fur patterned with warm shades of brown, tan, and white, the dogs are captured in various poses, some still in the action of the hunt, their attention fixated on the fallen prey. To the left, a hunter on foot, vested in dark clothing and clutching a whip, displays a stance suggesting control and dominance over the chaotic scene. Adjacent to him, another hunter mounted on a light-colored horse seems poised for the next stage of the hunt, his body swathed with a fur garment portraying his high social status. The background features a winter forest landscape with dustings of snow clinging to tree branches, providing a contrast to the violence and activity in the foreground. Overall, Courbet’s artwork presents a vivid narrative on the raw and unforgiving aspects of nature and human activity within it.
