Village by the Sea in Brittany c. 1880

Odilon Redon created this painting, Village by the Sea in Brittany, using oil paints and a brush. The texture of the oil paint, applied in visible strokes, gives a sense of materiality to the scene, making the village feel tangible. The application of paint is far from photorealistic; it's more focused on capturing the essence and atmosphere of the coastal village. This isn't about the precision of rendering, it’s about the quality of light and the feeling of a place. Interestingly, Redon wasn't always committed to painting in this style. He spent years working almost exclusively in charcoal, a much more direct and reproducible medium. This makes his turn to color and oil paint later in his career even more significant. By engaging with a more traditional medium like oil paint, Redon connected himself with a long history of artistic practice, but his expressive handling of the material ensured that his work remained distinctly modern. It reminds us that the choice of material and method is never neutral; it always carries a social and cultural significance.