French artist, Gustave Courbet (1819 – 1877) was known for his realistic paintings. His paintings highlighted social problems of his time. Courbet designed aggresive compositions and used light and color to create atmosphere. In his painting The Wheat Sifters (1854), Courbet paints about the problems of the poor. His skillful composition and use of color are apparent. His diagonal shapes add movement and energy to the painting. He models the figures with warm light and color temperature; note the structure and volume of the middle figure. (Jordi Vigue, Great Masters of Western Art)