柯尔培于1819年诞生于法国奥尔兰(Ornans)，他是在乡下长大，带着浓厚的乡土气息来到巴黎，但更重要的他带来了“阿尔难的下葬”和“石工”，那些和时下作风不同的作品和一个新的流派 -- 写实主义。

柯尔培主张描写农人和一切操作的人的真实生活，他绝不虚构，夸张或者想象，他对人体的心态、表情都经刻画分析他的取材，从不超过中等阶级的生活，他出身农家，所以他引用农人生活为主体，单纯地描绘出和平愉快的农村情调，但因为纯粹是写实主义的根本弱点。他说：“我能画的是我的眼睛所能看的东西，我没有看过天使，所以不能画。”这种见解决定了他们写诗派的弱点，因为他们只满足于感性的认识，而取消了理性的认识，便无法使他的作品更进一步。

但写实主义之得以抬头和柯尔培坚持自己的原则，不懈的奋斗是不可分的，那时候的沙龙在保守的“官学派”掌握中对新兴的写实主义是仇视的柯尔培参加的作品差不多落选了，柯尔培气愤之余，就在展览会旁边举行了一次标明是写实主义的个人展览。个展在当时是一种创举，事实上说明了观众并不如评判员那样保守人们开始带着惊异的目光来欣赏他的作品了。

柯尔培于一八七七年死于瑞士，享年五十八岁。至于一九一九始将他的尸灰运回他的家乡埋葬。

Gustave Courbet was born in 1819 in Ornans, France. He grew up in the countryside, imbued with a strong rural atmosphere, before moving to Paris. However, more importantly, he brought with him "The Burial at Ornans" and "The Stone Breakers," works that were different from the prevailing style and introduced a new genre - Realism.

Courbet advocated for depicting the real lives of peasants and all those who toiled. He never fictionalized, exaggerated, or imagined. He analyzed and portrayed the psyche and expressions of his subjects. His sources of inspiration never exceeded the life of the middle class. Hailing from a rural background himself, he primarily depicted the simple, peaceful, and pleasant rural life. However, because of the fundamental weakness of pure Realism, he stated, "I can only paint what I can see with my own eyes. I have never seen angels, so I cannot paint them." This viewpoint determined the limitations of his work, as he remained content with sensory perception and excluded rational understanding, preventing his works from advancing further.

Nevertheless, the rise of Realism and Courbet's unwavering adherence to his principles were inseparable. During his time, the conservative "Academic Art" controlled the salons and was hostile to the emerging Realism. Courbet's works submitted to these salons were largely rejected. In response, Courbet, in frustration, organized a personal exhibition near the official salon. Such a solo exhibition was groundbreaking at the time and demonstrated that the audience was not as conservative as the judges. People began to appreciate his work with astonishment.

Courbet passed away in Switzerland in 1877 at the age of fifty-eight. In 1919, his ashes were repatriated to his hometown for burial.