At Larchmont Manor, Long Island Sound, New York 1890

This landscape of Larchmont Manor was painted by David Johnson, likely in the mid-19th century, using oil on canvas. Of course, the appeal of the painting lies in its visual effect; the skillful arrangement of light and shade, land and sea. But let’s consider the work involved. Johnson built up this image layer by layer using brushes and paint that were themselves painstakingly made. The canvas, woven on a loom, was primed to provide a receptive surface for the pigments. These would have been carefully mixed with oil to achieve the desired consistency and hue, and then applied with precision to capture the scene's subtle nuances. The very act of painting, especially en plein air, required physical stamina, as Johnson contended with the elements to capture a fleeting moment in time. It's easy to overlook this labor, but it's essential to understanding the full richness of the artwork, challenging our notions of value and skill in the world of art.