View of Paris from near Montmartre 1886

Vincent van Gogh painted this view of Paris from near Montmartre with oil on canvas. Looking at the brushstrokes in this painting, it is evident that Van Gogh was engaging with the traditional materials and techniques of painting but pushing them in a new direction. The visible, expressive brushwork suggests a rapid pace, capturing a fleeting moment in time. The impasto – thick application of paint – gives the surface a tactile quality, and the way he's layered the paint adds a sense of depth and texture to the urban landscape. Consider, too, the labor involved. Each stroke represents a physical action, a deliberate choice. Van Gogh’s painting is a record of his engagement with the city, and the physical act of representing it. In the end, the real subject of paintings like this is not just a landscape, but the act of painting itself. It’s a reminder that art is as much about process and material as it is about representation.