Head of the Dog 1882

Claude Monet painted this portrait of a dog using oil on canvas. You can see that Monet applied the paint in thick, expressive strokes; this technique, known as impasto, gives the dog's fur a tangible, almost sculptural quality. The way he layered different shades of brown, yellow, and white suggests the texture and volume of the dog’s coat. This was a departure from traditional academic painting, where brushstrokes were often smoothed out to create an illusionistic effect. Monet’s choice of material and process was radical. By emphasizing the materiality of paint, he focused on the act of painting itself, rather than creating a perfect representation. This approach broke down the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the more process-oriented world of craft, inviting viewers to appreciate the skill and labor involved in bringing an image to life.