Landscape 

Editor: So, this is Isaac Levitan's "Landscape," an oil painting. It has such a somber and serene feeling. What draws your eye in this piece? Curator: I’m drawn to how Levitan’s process emphasizes materiality. He was dedicated to plein-air painting, which meant directly engaging with the landscape, the physical world, and the tangible qualities of oil paint to translate his experience. We see the visible brushstrokes and the layering of paint. Editor: You can really see the textures created with the oil paint. How does his choice of materials reflect broader cultural or societal contexts of the time? Curator: Absolutely! Levitan’s impressionistic technique— the very way he handled the materials— diverged from the traditional academic art. His loose brushstrokes and emphasis on capturing fleeting moments aligns with the emerging focus on individual experience. It was made more accessible than ever before to experience and capture life. Do you see a shift in the traditional hierarchy between high art and craft here? Editor: Now that you mention it, his plein-air approach makes the act of painting itself, almost like labor in a way. Not the historical landscapes made in a studio from sketches. Curator: Precisely. Levitan’s choice reflects a turn towards a democratization of art production and subject matter, finding artistic merit in everyday scenery and direct observation. How do you see this influencing modern art? Editor: I guess this shifted the understanding of what an artwork can be. Thanks, it was interesting seeing it under this new perspective. Curator: I'm glad we could consider the relationship between materials, making, and meaning! It sheds light on art's connection to its time.