The artwork “The Woman in the Waves” is an oil on canvas painting by Gustave Courbet, completed in 1868. Belonging to the Realism art movement, it measures 65 x 54 cm and is categorized as a nude painting. This piece is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork showcases a figure of a woman partially submerged in water. The subject is positioned slightly off-center, her torso and arms elevated above the waves, capturing the viewer’s immediate attention. The intimate composition of the painting places emphasis on the soft, luminous flesh of the subject, conveyed with evident painterly skill. The woman is captured in a candid pose, with her right arm gracefully bending over her head and her left arm resting along her raised knee.
Courbet’s treatment of flesh against the tumultuous backdrop of the sea illustrates his mastery in rendering textures and the interplay between light and shadow. The sea itself is depicted with vigorous brushstrokes, suggesting the movement of water frothing around the woman’s figure. The background is muted and atmospheric, providing a stark contrast to the detailed rendering of the woman’s form and the vivid, lively depiction of the sea. This juxtaposition is indicative of Courbet’s Realist approach, eschewing idealized beauty and mythological themes, instead opting for a more truthful and direct representation of his subject.
