The Desperate Man by Gustave Courbet - Assignment Example

The Desperate Man by Gustave Courbet shows German Expressionism through the deep emotion portrayed in this painting. This self portrait of oil on canvas shows Courbet running his fingers through his hair, wide-eyed with fear, and tight lips. The fear coming from this portrait is almost palpable. This man is totally alive with fear of something unknown to the viewer. This makes the viewer even more nervous, since no cause of fear can be seen. The darkness in this painting creates an equal foreboding along with the terrified face of the artist.

Another way The Desperate Man by Gustave Courbet shows German Expressionism is through madness. Courbet looks like an insane man with his wild eyes and pulling of his hair. Many German Expressionism pieces of art, including theater, revolved around the insane. During this period, more and more individuals were becoming aware of mental illness. The only way to deal with mental illness were primitive insane asylums. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a film example of German Expressionism.

This film deals with an insane man and sleepwalking minions murdering people. This subject matter of an insane man is portrayed in The Desperate Man. Finally the concept of identity is portrayed in Courbet’s painting. One interpretation of this painting could be of man struggling with his identity. He does not want to be insane, the man wants to be brilliant. However the demons that possess his soul come back to haunt him every time he tries to work. The realness of Courbet’s frustration at painting can almost be felt in this painting.

Foreboding, madness, and identity all create the dark emotional side of German Expressionism. The Desperate Man by Gustave Courbet depicts all of these traits. The choice of Courbet’s The Desperate Man reflects German Expressionism.