at this time, there were many political problems in france. courbet became involved in the political problems. in 1871, he was blamed because a public monument called the vendôme column had been demolished. he was put in prison for six months. in 1873, the new government expected him to pay to have the monument restored and put back. he did not have enough money so left france to live in switzerland. the government decided to make terms so that courbet could pay for the column in yearly payments of 10,000 francs for 33 years. courbet died at la tour-de-peilz, switzerland, on 31 december 1877, one day before the first payment was due. he was 58 and died of liver disease, made worse by heavy drinking.