Seascape at Saintes-Maries 1888

Vincent van Gogh made this painting, *Seascape at Saintes-Maries*, with oil paints on canvas. The material itself is quite traditional, but his handling of it is not. Looking closely, you see how Van Gogh applied the paint in thick, deliberate strokes. Each dab and dash of color seems to stand alone, yet they all come together to create a vivid impression of the sea's energy. The paint itself becomes almost sculptural. It’s as though Van Gogh wants us to feel the physical effort of his brushstrokes, almost matching the labor involved in sailing those boats. Consider how this approach challenges the traditional ideas about painting. Instead of disguising the work that went into the piece, Van Gogh makes it visible and visceral. By celebrating the materiality of paint, and the act of applying it to canvas, Van Gogh is reminding us that art is not just about the final image but also about the process of creation itself.