Source

This 1868 canvas from the Musée d'Orsay shows Courbet returning to the spring-and-nude subject he had explored in the 1862 Metropolitan version, here developing the motif with the accumulated confidence of six further years of engagement with the Franche-Comté landscape. By 1868 Courbet was at the height of his controversial prominence — celebrated by Zola and the naturalist writers, vilified by conservative critics, and commercially successful enough to run his own studio at Ornans. The 'source' as motif occupied an interesting position between the mythological tradition of nymphs-at-springs and Courbet's determinedly earthbound Realism; the tension between these registers is part of what gives his spring subjects their distinctive energy.

The 1868 version would show a more assured handling of the cool, reflective water environment compared to the 1862 canvas, with increased confidence in the plein-air color of dappled forest light. Geological formations are built up with heavy palette knife application creating real surface depth. The figure is modelled with the physical directness characteristic of Courbet's mature figure work.