Lake. Autumn. 1898

Isaac Levitan captured this scene using oil paints on canvas, a process rooted in a long European tradition, yet made newly accessible during his time through industrial production of materials. Levitan’s painting employs the directness of visible brushstrokes to define the scene before us. The texture of the paint conjures the scene. Observe how the paint mimics nature. The surface of the water is applied with horizontal movements of blues and greens. The way the light shimmers on the water’s surface has a parallel in the impasto. The loose handling of paint evokes a sense of immediacy, a fleeting moment captured in time. The work involved in the production process – from grinding pigments to stretching the canvas – reflects a deep engagement with materiality. Levitan’s art challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the skill and labor embedded within the artwork. By focusing on the materiality of the painting, we gain a deeper understanding of its artistic and cultural significance.