Les Voiles 1984

Carlos Nadal created ‘Les Voiles’ with oil on canvas, a classic combination that by the 20th century had become fully integrated into industrial production. The thick brushstrokes give the painting a tangible, almost sculptural, quality. Look at how Nadal applies the paint, not just to depict the scene, but to build up texture. The layers of color create a sense of depth and movement, particularly in the water and sky. The way the paint is worked, in these small, directional marks, suggests a rapid execution. In terms of social context, oil paint moved from being a carefully guarded secret, mixed by the artist themselves, to a commodity that could be purchased at any art supply store. This shift democratized art-making, but it also changed the way artists approached their work, leading to the bold, expressive brushwork we see here. ‘Les Voiles’ reminds us that even within traditional mediums, there's always room for innovation and individual expression.