Hut on the meadow 1885

Isaac Levitan painted this landscape with oils on canvas. Consider how Levitan applied the paint: in some areas, like the foliage, short, choppy strokes of different greens suggest the density of the leaves. Then, looking at the sky, he used softer, blended brushwork to create a sense of atmospheric perspective. Oil paint is particularly good at this, its texture and blending capabilities allow for subtle shifts in color and tone, mimicking the play of light and atmosphere we observe in nature. As the work is a painting, we may overlook the labor involved in its production; from the preparation of the canvas, to the mixing of paints, to the physical act of applying the paint to the surface, Levitan’s hand is evident throughout this process. Paying attention to materials, making, and context is key to understanding how artistic processes translate into social and cultural meaning, and helps to challenge traditional ideas about what is considered art, and what is not.