Monticelli, near Tivoli 1843

Alexander Ivanov made this oil-on-canvas landscape, “Monticelli, near Tivoli,” using the traditional techniques of fine art. He built the image with layers of thin paint, carefully constructing the effect of space and atmosphere. You’ll notice the brushwork in the foreground, rendered with a kind of earthy energy, which gradually softens as the land recedes into the distance. In its own way, this approach represents a kind of labour. Ivanov isn’t moving earth himself, or building a road – but he is working to create an image of the land, a commodity that could be bought and sold. He is also working within a tradition, one that values the individual artist’s touch, and the way that skill can transform simple materials into something beautiful. The painting’s subject is the Italian countryside, a timeless source of inspiration. But consider the work that went into producing the painting itself: the mining of pigments, the weaving of canvas, the careful layering of brushstrokes. All of this is easy to overlook, but vital to consider when engaging with any work of art.