View of Labastide in Gray Weather 

Henri Martin made this painting of Labastide with oil on canvas, and likely en plein air, directly in the landscape. Here, Martin uses a pointillist technique to depict the quaint town of Labastide. This involves applying small, distinct dots of color that blend together when viewed from a distance. It’s a painstaking process, requiring immense patience and labor. Notice how the texture of the canvas itself becomes part of the artwork's effect. It’s almost like a woven tapestry, mirroring the textures of the natural scene. In this light, the painting becomes more than just a picture. It's an object, crafted with care. The pointillist technique, though seemingly scientific, actually amplifies the handmade, laborious quality of painting. It connects the artistic process to the rhythms of labor and craft that sustain a rural community like Labastide. Ultimately, considering the making of this piece allows us to see how Martin elevates the act of painting itself, blurring the lines between artistic creation and the everyday rhythms of life.