Cineraria 1886

Vincent van Gogh created this painting of Cineraria using oil on canvas. The material of oil paint allows for a slow blending of colors, and you can see this at work here, especially in the play of light and shadow across the leaves. The thick application of paint, almost sculptural in places, gives the work a tangible, three-dimensional quality. Note how the artist applied brushstrokes in different directions to capture the texture and form of the plant's leaves and delicate flowers. Van Gogh's engagement with his materials and techniques reveals a deep understanding of the craft of painting, elevating what could have been a simple still life into a powerful expression of the artist's perception and engagement with the natural world. It reminds us that so called 'fine art' is always deeply rooted in material practices.