Here I am, because of the People of Paris [Paris Commune], up to my neck in politics. President of the Federation of Artists, member of the Commune committee, city council delegate and delegate for Public Education: the four most important posts in Paris. I get up, I have breakfast, and I preside and sit on committees twelve hours a day. Now my head is starting to spin. But in spite of all this worry and trying to understand unfamiliar things, I am really happy..

Letter to his parents (30th April 1870); as quoted in 'Courbet Speaks', 'Courbet-dossier', Musée-dOrsay