The Church in Auvers-sur-Oise, View from the Chevet 1890

Vincent van Gogh painted this church in Auvers-sur-Oise using oil paints. The viscous quality of oil paint allowed him to build up layers, creating that incredible texture we see across the canvas. Look at the sky and the church itself. See how Van Gogh has applied the paint in short, deliberate strokes? This impasto technique wasn't just about aesthetics; it was about the labor, the physical act of painting. Each stroke is a mark of the artist's hand, a record of his time and energy. It’s a world away from the smooth, blended surfaces you’d have seen in earlier academic painting. This approach also embodies a radical shift in the art world, away from depicting the lives of the privileged, and toward honoring the everyday. Van Gogh elevates the act of applying paint almost to the same level as the subject he is depicting. He emphasizes that creative labor is of similar value to any other kind of work.