The Tuileries (Study) 1876

Claude Monet painted this study of the Tuileries gardens with oil on canvas. It's useful to remember that even "traditional" art materials like these have a backstory of production. Canvas is woven from flax, and oil paint is made with pigments that must be mined or manufactured. What's most striking here is Monet’s application of the paint. Observe the loose brushstrokes, capturing the atmosphere of the park more than its details. The quick, gestural marks show us that painting, like any skilled practice, is work. The dabs and dashes of color—greens, blues, yellows and reds—create a sense of light and movement, and the feeling of the park on a sunny day, as if you were there. Monet's painting reminds us that even in the creation of beauty, materials and labor are central. By understanding the making, we get a deeper appreciation for the artist's vision and the world they sought to capture.