Oil on canvas

62×43 cm. 24 3/8×16 7/8 in

Dated and titled in Chinese on reverse； signed in Chinese and dated on stretcher

LITERATURE
2011, The 2nd ChongQing Biennale for Young Artists： Link Tradition and Future, Chongqing Art Museum, Chongqing, p.155
2013, Rainbow×Sugar×Goblins, Lin & Lin Gallery, Taipei, p.15
EXHIBITED
1908, Chaine et simonson Exhibition, Galerie des Artistes Modernes, Paris
1909, Jules Féral Exhibition, Paris
1909, Bernheim Galarie, Paris
1935-1936, Kunsthaus Zurich Switzerland, Zurich

PROVENANCE
Collection of Mr. Eugene Poubelle, previous police chief of Seine, France
Collection of H. Baudoin family in 1908, Europe
Collection of M. Chatenay family in 1909, Europe
Collection of O. Mitheke family in 1913, Europe
Private Collection, Europe
Important Private Collection, Asia
This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Institut Gustave Courbet.

Nostalgia
The Golden Age of Gustav Courbet - Roches et Cascade

“Failure to attach sufficient importance to the geographical location of the painter’s hometown makes it impossible to completely appreciate the art of Gustave Courbet.”
- Michael Fried, Modern art historian

Gustve Courbet was born into a wealthy landlord family in Ornans, located in the region of Franche-Comté in the Loue Valley of Eastern France in 1819, a place of beautiful landscapes, with lush undulating hills, lakes, forests, distinctive rock faces and the Sarrazine Grotto. This is the natural environment in which the artist grew up. In 1839, Courbet moved to Paris where he rented an art studio and sought to make a name for himself as a painter. However, even after becoming one of the most renowned figures in Paris in the early 1850s, an artist whose works were avidly sought after by collectors and major salons and being praised by French literary giant Charles Baudelaire as “a lighthouse pointing the way, ” Courbet continued to introduce himself as “a river valley resident.”
Moreover, the scenery and cultural landscape of the artist’s hometown remained a constant source of sustenance and creative inspiration for his paintings. One such example is The Painter’s Studio, painted in 1855 and currently part of the Musée d’Orsay collection in Paris. In this work, Courbet presents an autobiographical scene showing himself at work in his studio, with his art world sponsors, collectors, and commentators to the right, while to the left stand the realities on which his work focused：“the masses, wretchedness, poverty, wealth, the exploited and the exploiters.” What is interesting about this piece is the painting within a painting at the center of the work, which is a landscape depicting the Loue Valley of the artist’s hometown. Stood by the bottom left corner of the painting is an innocent young child appreciating Courbet’s artistic skill. This painting amounts to the artist’s creative declaration on realism and simultaneously represents a rejection of the idealism and artifice of official painting. Instead, Courbet focused on the realities of life in an attempt to establish a new artistic fashion, while also seeming to reiterate that however high his reputation in the art world rose, his heart would forever remain in his “hometown.”
Home is where the Heart is
The auctioned work Roches et Cascade was completed by Courbet in 1866 and is a classic painting from the artists most creatively productive period. In this work he eliminates exterior figures and focuses on the Loue River from his hometown, through which he conducts a dialogue between heaven and earth. Courbet adopts a single point perspective and focuses on the mirror-like green water surrounded by hills and cliffs. Radiating outwards, the almost blue-green hue references the depth of the water, while the natural topography and elevation of the scene means the water flows as if down a flight of stairs, with spray flying skywards before crashing to earth. Between this back and forth the artist creates a sense of rhythm, while showcasing in detail traces of refracted light, imbuing the poetic tranquility of the mountain forest with vibrant energy. The main color of the painting is Courbet’s classic green and through the interplay of brush and palette knife he powerfully and self-confidently superimposes layers. This is evident in the roughness of the rock face and the growing flora, which allude to the powerful life force and inclusiveness of nature. If we turn our gaze upwards, intermittent white clouds float in the sky which stretches into the distance, almost as a laid back and harmonious minuet. As French poet Max Buchon, has written：“Our good friend Courbet, his colors are so real； his tender and harmonious green is like a soft blanket； his rivers, rocks and mountain valleys are so clear； all brilliance replete with his great soul, ” beautiful and pure.
The Sound of Allusion：Beyond realism
“Every era has good painters, for example Gustave Courbet. He and Paul Cezanne were the first artists to use the palette knife as a tool to build up or modify brushstrokes. Between give and take, they focused on the speed at which the pigment hits the canvas and applied it directly. Painting skill can be attained with sufficient time, one might say that anyone can learn, the problem is being able to determine whether a work possesses depth. Courbet’s skill is excellent as his works showcase both external and internal painting mastery.”
- Zao Wou-ki
As suggested by Zao Wou-ki’s comment, Roches et Cascade showcases Courbet’s undeniable panting work and skill, the question is whether this comes with any deeper undertones. In 1866, the artist also painted The Origin of the World, a work that depicts the genitals of a female model and caused uproar. It even resulted in a war of words in the French press with some arguing the work was shockingly vulgar, while others praising it as bold, fearless and ahead of its time. If we compare Roches et Cascade and The Origin of the World, the two have a similar triangular composition and while the latter former emphasizes that nature originates in water, the latter references female fertility. In that sense, both paintings allude to creating and nurturing life, though one depicts the female form, while the other shows a natural landscape, seemingly diametrically opposed routes to address the same theme. Alternatively, one could say that the way in which the Courbet creates more space for viewers to interpret and imagine, makes the paintings even more compelling. The provenance of Roches et Cascade is also very clear, the first owner being Mr. Eugene Poubelle previous police chief of Seine in France. From 1908, the painting was part of the collections of four important European and Asian art collectors and as such has been well preserved for more than 150 years. This is the first time the work has been auctioned, making it a particularly rare event, presenting serious collectors with a not-to-be-missed opportunity.

Price estimate:
HKD: 1, 500, 000 - 2, 500, 000
USD: 192, 300 - 320, 500

Auction Result:
HKD: 4,130,000