Study of Beeches 

John Frederick Kensett created this "Study of Beeches" with oil on canvas at a time when America was rapidly industrializing. The choice of materials in this painting – oil paints, canvas – speak to a tradition of fine art, yet Kensett's process democratizes this tradition through his direct engagement with the natural world. The texture is built up through layers of brushstrokes, each one a deliberate mark that captures the essence of light as it filters through the dense foliage. Kensett’s technique reminds us of the physical act of painting, transforming raw materials into a vision of the American landscape. Consider the labor involved not only in the painting itself, but also in the harvesting and processing of raw materials. The canvas must be woven, the pigments ground, the oil extracted, each step a testament to the human effort. By focusing on the materiality and process of art, we can see how Kensett challenges traditional distinctions between high art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the work of art not just as an image but as a product of human skill, labor, and engagement with the natural world.