Le camp des bourgeois

First edition, for which there were no large paper copies.
Work decorated with several original plate illustrations by Gustave Courbet. Spine slightly split at the head also with a small section missing.
Emile Zola quotes this work in ‘L'Evénement illustré' on 5 May 1868: 'c'est là une œuvre qui fera sensation. L'auteur est un utilitaire tombant à bras raccourcis sur la bourgeoisie fainéante et oisive. (...) Courbet ne pouvait guère trouver un texte dont l'esprit convînt mieux à son genre de talent. Le Franc-Comtois a dû se réjouir en lui de ce plaidoyer en faveur des paysans, des rudes enfants de la terre. Aussi, comme il s'est mis volontiers à dauber les bourgeois, les messieurs qui ne sauraient distinguer une pelle d'un râteau ! Chacun de ses dessins est une satire.' ‘this is a work that will cause a sensation. The author is a vehicle lashing out at the lazy and idle bourgeoisie. (...) Courbet could scarcely find a text whose spirit was better suited to his talent. The Franc-Comtois must have rejoiced in this plea in favour of peasants, the formidable children of the earth. Also, since he was willing to ridicule the bourgeois, gentlemen who could not tell a spade from a rake! Each of his drawings is a satire.' Very rare.