Paysage de Normandie, Bazincourt 

Maximilien Luce made this oil on canvas painting depicting the landscape of Bazincourt, Normandy. Luce was a master of applying paint, evident in the textured surface here. Thick brushstrokes create a tapestry of color, with the light seeming to emanate from the canvas itself. Look closely and you’ll see how the paint’s very substance contributes to the image. The way Luce built up layers of pigment mimics the growth and density of the landscape itself. Luce was associated with the neo-impressionist movement, embracing a scientific approach to color. But he was also a committed socialist, often depicting working-class life. Here, although the subject is seemingly apolitical, the sheer labor involved in the production of the painting—the mixing of pigments, the layering of brushstrokes—speaks to the value of work itself. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that art is not just about the image, but also about the process, the materials, and the social context in which it was made.