In the Redwoods 1894

Thomas Hill made this painting, “In the Redwoods,” using oil paint on canvas, a very traditional approach to landscape. The materials themselves invite a certain appreciation of the work. Oil paint is interesting stuff – made by grinding pigment into oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, allowing for blending and reworking, and has a rich, luminous quality. Hill expertly employs the materials to define the texture of the redwood bark, capturing its deep furrows and crevices. He applies the paint in layers, creating depth and dimension in the foliage and forest floor. Look closely, and you can see how the direction and thickness of the strokes create a sense of movement and vitality. But beyond the qualities of oil paint, this work also has social significance. Hill’s romantic portrayal of the California landscape coincided with the growing interest in environmentalism, but also with the expansion of logging in the American West. The painting speaks to the complex relationship between humans and nature, and the economic forces that drive our interaction with the natural world.