NARRATOR—Source of the Loueis one of the many landscapes by Courbet that represent famous sites in the Franche-Comté, an isolated region on the eastern frontier of France where the artist was born and spent much of his life.This pictureThe present workis one of four canvases Courbet made in 1864 showing the famous source of the Loue, a river that emerged from an immense cave-like hollow.It includes an extensive view of the waterworks situated just to the left of the grotto.

One of the hallmarks of Courbet’s highly personalized painting is his extensive use of the palette knife. Here, Courbet vigorously trowelled his pigment onto the canvas, creating a craggy surface totally in keeping with the rugged character of his subject. Yet there is nothing thoughtless about Courbet's application of paint. He masterfully adjusted his strokes in accordance with the qualities of the objects he represents.His adept manipulation of the knife effectively evokes both the lace-like forms of the cascading water, and the rough surfaces of the cave’s rock face.