Girl in a Wickford Garden, New England 

Rose O'Neill created this painting, Girl in a Wickford Garden, New England, using oil paint on canvas. The way O’Neill applies the paint is key here; you can see every brushstroke, each dab and swirl building up to form the image. Look closely, and you’ll see how the texture isn’t uniform. The artist uses thick, expressive strokes to capture the light filtering through the trees. It's as though she wants to show the garden bursting with life, not just represent it. The oil paint itself, ground pigment mixed with oil, has a long history. But O’Neill is using it in a very modern way, prioritizing the experience of being in this garden. She doesn’t try to hide the labor involved, but instead celebrates it. In this way, "high" art and the experience of everyday life come together. Ultimately, understanding the materiality and making of this painting allows us to appreciate O'Neill's skill and her unique perspective.