Following several of his previous realist masterpieces that were well received by the Salons, such as the Burial at Ornans, and Stonebreakers, Courbet here again depicted an everyday life scene with realist style. In the painting, Courbet himself, on the right, encounters two strangers in the countryside near his hometown Ornans. The two people, according to historians, the son of a banker, Alfred Bruyas, and his servant in brown suit, presumably just arrived after being dropped off by the carriage in the background. The casual encounter out in the countryside on a beautiful day, however, doesn't seem all that friendly.

While the rich son of the banker takes off his one of his glove and shows Courbet a greeting gesture, Courbet however tilts his head back and kind of “looks down” on the other party as pointed by his “keyed up” beard. It might shed some light on the situation given that Courbet loved and encouraged other artist friends to go out to the country and paint on the sight. The painting captures this moment as Courbet packs up and takes a trip in the country. He presents himself as a self-sufficient and well-prepared old hand of rough terrain, as opposed to the two city boys who got beat-up by travelling in the country. One might go as far as to say Courbet through this painting mocks the industrialized urban life and upholds the value of a life among the nature. Also, known as common people’s artist from works such as the Stonebreakers, Courbet is perhaps showing his disdain towards the “bankers” and those who make their fortune by exploiting working men.

But ironically enough, the death of Courbet was resulted from something he had done for the people, or at he thought he did. In 1871, as president of the revolutionary Paris Commune, Courbet ordered the removal of the Vendome Column. However, the political environment shifted greatly in the next two years. In 1873, the newly elected president Mac-Mahon wanted to resurrect the column, and Courbet was held to pay the expense, which amounted to 323,091 fr and 68 cent.

Courbet then fled to Switzerland to avoid bankruptcy and died from heavy drinking, just a day before the first monthly installment was due. In retrospect, one might look back to this painting and ask, was he so self-sufficient as he depicted after all, and would it hurt to have made friends with a banker? If he had shown little more friendly a gesture, he might not be in so much debt or drink later.