The Agony in the Garden 1608

El Greco rendered "The Agony in the Garden" in oil paint on canvas, a now-standard medium that was still gaining traction in the late 16th century. Oil paint is key to understanding the expressive power here. El Greco built up layers of pigment, creating a luminous effect particularly noticeable in the angel's robes and Christ's garments. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist uses impasto – thick, textured brushstrokes – to give the figures depth and volume, catching light in a way that enhances the spiritual intensity of the scene. The traditional processes of oil painting, from grinding pigments to applying glazes, are here pushed to their expressive limit. It’s not just about depicting a religious scene; it’s about using the very substance of paint to evoke a sense of divine presence, an emotional landscape. This emphasis elevates the act of painting itself, blurring the line between mere craft and transcendent art.