Jakob Becker

Jakob Becker (15 March 1810 – 22 December 1872) was a German artist noted mainly for his genre paintings of peasants.

His first important work was a panorama over the Rhine from Mainz to Cologne.

He broke with the lofty attitude of much Biblical historical painting in the Städel creating his profane scenes.

As the first professor of landscape and genre painting, he sought his subjects in the countryside and was especially interested in the social problems of the peasantry.

In 1858 he offered to share his studio with Gustave Courbet and – despite having to endure some rudeness from the French artist – Becker accepted some of his stylistic influences.