What did realist artist like Gustave Courbet try to do with their act?

Realist artists like Gustave Courbet aimed to depict everyday life and the struggles of ordinary people, moving away from the idealized subjects of Romanticism and Neoclassicism. They sought to portray reality as it was, often highlighting social issues and the working class. Courbet believed in representing the truth of human experience, emphasizing authenticity and the material world in his art. This focus on realism challenged traditional artistic conventions and brought attention to the socio-political context of the time.