Olive Trees at Corfu 1909

John Singer Sargent created "Olive Trees at Corfu" using oil paint on canvas. Traditional materials, yes, but the way Sargent used them is all his own. Notice the loose brushwork, almost gestural, which captures the essence of the Corfiot landscape. Oil paint allows for layering and blending, which Sargent masterfully uses to create depth and atmosphere. The thickness of the paint in areas gives the impression of the rough texture of tree bark, contrasting with the smoother applications in the sky. But this isn't just about technique. Sargent's choice of subject is also telling. Olive trees, with their gnarled trunks and silvery leaves, are evocative. This landscape is less about a specific place, and more about evoking a mood, an atmosphere, a sense of place which is rooted in the tradition of landscape painting. It's a reminder that the story of art is also one of labor and consumption, of materials transformed by human hands.