Estação II. Via-Sacra 1960

Aldo Locatelli, an Italian-Brazilian artist, created this image of the Via Sacra with oil on canvas. Oil paint is a great medium for conveying texture, and here Locatelli makes the most of it. Notice how the paint is applied with visible brushstrokes, creating a rough surface that emphasizes the physical suffering of Christ, who is forced to carry the cross. The scene is rendered with great expressivity, almost like social realism; we can feel the weight of the wooden cross, and the stones and debris underfoot. It’s worth noting that the tradition of oil painting is associated with the old masters and academic traditions. But here, Locatelli has used that language to render a scene from the bible in terms of its material and physical reality, emphasizing the very real labor and effort involved. Ultimately, by focusing on the ways in which the materials and making process affect our understanding of the work, we can appreciate its full power and complexity, moving beyond traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.