View of the Molo towards the Santa Maria della Salute 1780

Francesco Guardi painted this view of Venice with oil paint, likely using brushes of varying sizes and perhaps a palette knife for textural effects. Guardi's loose brushwork almost dissolves the scene into light and atmosphere, a departure from the precise renderings of his contemporaries. However, it’s important to consider the material realities that underpinned even the most ethereal paintings of the time. Venetian painters like Guardi relied on pigments sourced from global trade networks, combining them with linseed oil to create their paints. Canvas, stretched and prepared by workshop assistants, provided the support for their artistic visions. Looking closely, we can see the marks of Guardi’s process – the visible brushstrokes, the layering of paint, the subtle variations in color. These details remind us that painting, like any form of making, is a physical act, shaped by the artist’s hand and the properties of the materials they employ. This consideration brings us closer to the circumstances of artistic production, and the labor involved.