Final answer:
Gustave Courbet is renowned as the father of Realism, an art movement that realistically depicted everyday life and had a significant impact on future art movements, including Impressionism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gustave Courbet is considered the father of Realism. Courbet's artistic philosophy was to portray life as he saw it, with a sense of social consciousness and a commitment to depicting the 'real' people and societal concerns of his time. His works challenged traditional paintings of mythological, biblical, or historical themes and instead focused on everyday life. This commitment to portraying the unidealized aspects of society is evident in his bold brushstrokes, use of a palette knife, and choice of subject matter that included workers, peasants, cafes, and natural landscapes.
Despite facing rejection from traditional art salons, Courbet continued to produce art based on his interpretation of Realistic art. Courbet's Realism laid the groundwork for future artistic movements, including Impressionism, by moving away from idealized representations towards more true-to-life depictions. He painted life as it happened to ordinary people, without glossing over the rough or unpleasant aspects, thus becoming a critical figure in art history.