Józef Pankiewicz - Landscape with a Church and Cypresses Ca. 1914, Oil on Canvas 

Józef Pankiewicz created this landscape with a church and cypresses around 1914, using oil on canvas. The thick application of paint is immediately apparent. You can see how Pankiewicz loaded his brush, allowing the material qualities of the oil paint to define the forms. Look closely, and you'll notice the texture isn't uniform. The artist varied his approach, building up layers in some areas, like the foliage, while leaving others relatively smooth, particularly in the sky. This wasn't just about representation; it was a conscious decision to engage with the materiality of paint itself. Pankiewicz’s technique reflects a broader shift in the art world, where the act of painting and the properties of the medium became central themes, rather than solely using paint to depict a scene. This approach elevated the status of the artist's craft, aligning it with other forms of skilled making and design. By understanding the artist's engagement with the medium, we gain a deeper appreciation for the work's aesthetic and conceptual complexity.