Kaukola Ridge at Sunset 1890

Albert Edelfelt made this painting with oil on canvas, a material that has a deep history in the art world. The surface of the painting is fairly smooth; Edelfelt has blended his colors to capture the still lake at sunset. The oil paint allows Edelfelt to apply thin layers, or glazes, to slowly build up the image, mimicking the way light filters through the atmosphere. The way in which the paint is applied is part of a long tradition, and its reliance on industrial production has also been tied to wider social issues of labor, class and politics. The amount of labor involved in the production process is apparent in the way Edelfelt has taken the time to blend his colors. The combination of materials and making, helps to understand the full meaning of the artwork, challenging the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.