New Books in History Paul Galvez, "Courbet's Landscapes: The Origins of Modern Painting" (Yale UP, 2022)
Oct 24, 2025
Paul Galvez, an art historian specializing in modern painting, dives into Gustave Courbet's overlooked landscape works that laid the groundwork for modernism. He discusses the significance of these paintings in relation to historical consciousness and materiality. Galvez elaborates on Courbet's unique painting techniques and the challenges of reproducing his works in print. The conversation also touches on artist intention, avoiding commercial interpretations, and Courbet's lasting influence on future generations of artists. His upcoming project on Gauguin's ceramic sculptures promises to be equally intriguing!
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Discovery On A Museum Road Trip
- Paul Galvez discovered Courbet's landscapes while traveling museums in Germany and noticing recurring works in small towns.
- That repeated exposure revealed an under-studied body that launched his project.
Landscape As Modernist Toolkit
- Courbet's landscapes innovate pictorial mark outside plein-air Impressionism and Parisian subjects.
- This mode of making links directly to later modernism from Monet to Cézanne.
Tame Dense Scholarship Strategically
- When facing dense scholarship, group existing interpretations into a few coherent approaches.
- Present those pathways quickly and move on to your own sustained contribution.
