Sunset On The Shore 

Oswald Achenbach painted this scene with oil paint on canvas, a familiar combination from art history. However, it's the way he's layered and manipulated that paint which gives the work its atmosphere and depth. Look closely and you will see the artist has used many thin layers of paint, that allow the light to reflect, and a range of brushstrokes in different directions creating an illusion of movement and texture. The visible brushwork on the canvas adds another layer of tactility to the image. What I find particularly interesting is the labor implied within the painting, the labour involved in creating the work itself but also the people on the shore, seemingly engaged in their daily work. This is not only a landscape study but also a glance into the daily routines and culture of ordinary people, and the relationship between the working class and the natural world. Paying attention to the materials and the making allows us to consider the broader context of artistic and economic production.