... the public were shocked by, none of whom realised that this was what Courbet actually called reality. Courbet's realism is a totally independent of the exact illustration of details, he deifies the proletariats in the style of history paintings of Regal figures. In "A Burial at Ornans" (1859) the compact black mass of mourners has the tranquillity of a still life, almost to the same extent as the barrier of rocks in the background. The picture captures a moment of real life, a record of a burial at his hometown of Ornans with a solemn group of mourners including the social strata of the community - priest, mayor, farmers and labourers. The painting is large; Courbet has used a limited range of colours and strong chiaroscuro to add to the frieze like composition. "The Stone Breakers" (1849) is a direct image of two labourers, one young and one old, ...

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