The man with the cat 

Valeria Duca created this painting, "The man with the cat," using oil paint on what appears to be canvas. The artist employs thick, visible brushstrokes, imbuing the scene with texture. The painting is made in the style of "impasto," where the paint is laid on so thickly that it stands out from the surface. We can see this in the varied applications of color, and how the materiality influences its appearance. Oil paint has a long history within fine art, dating back centuries and often associated with traditional artistic techniques. The visible brushstrokes show the hand of the artist, a direct expression of the artist's labor. Duca’s work feels particularly intimate due to the vulnerable depiction of the subject. By emphasizing the physical nature of the medium, the artist calls attention to the act of creation itself. This piece invites us to consider the labor, skill, and traditional techniques that contribute to the creation of fine art.