Löwen In Verbrannter Steppe 

Wilhelm Kuhnert, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, made this oil painting. Notice how Kuhnert has laid down the paint. It is not about a smooth surface, but rather, the artist has chosen to leave the strokes and the texture of the material visible. There's a ruggedness to the surface that matches the subject of lions in a harsh landscape. Oil paint, of course, has been a favoured material for centuries in Western art. Yet here, it is not used to create a polished illusion. Instead, the material’s inherent qualities of viscosity and opacity are put to the fore. Consider how this approach differs from the slick surfaces often associated with academic painting. Kuhnert seems more interested in capturing a sense of lived experience, of being present in a particular place and time. And it's not just about the visual experience. The materiality of the paint itself becomes part of the story. Ultimately, by understanding the artist's choices around materials and processes, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the work as a whole.