... in a painting by Courbet, entitled The Painter's Studio (1855) (Beckett, p. 530), a reference to the myth of the artist as an isolated but exemplary member of society. Courbet's realism depicts the artist himself in his studio painting a realistic landscape surrounded by, as he claims, 'all the people who served my cause' (Ibid.). In it we see nudes in their classical perfection, wealthy onlooker's, musicians, intellectuals, religious members and the portrayal of the rural poor, amongst others. All the onlookers stand or sit in a frieze like composition arranged - by the artist - to draw us into the central image of the artists himself, somewhat detached but calmly superior. This variety of people, it is claimed (Ibid.), represents an allegory of social reality. Courbet is presenting himself as a well-dressed man facing those who 'live' (Ibid.) and painting the reality around him rather than (to his back) ...

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