The Hajj (the traditional pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque of Mecca) 

Alfred Dehodencq painted this scene of the Hajj with oil on canvas, a classic academic technique. Yet, he’s not just using paint to create an illusion. The very materiality of his medium, particularly the way he applies pigment, offers a lens through which to view this moment. Look closely, and you can see how the rich impasto of the clouds contrasts with the smoother textures of the sea and the figures. Dehodencq's brushstrokes are not merely descriptive; they convey the energy of the crowd, the dust kicked up on the path, and the sheer scale of the pilgrimage. Notice how the figures in the foreground are rendered with more detail, while those in the distance become almost abstract masses of color. The painting's focus on the journey is enhanced by these variations in texture and detail. It's a reminder that every painting is itself a made thing, a result of countless small decisions and actions. This making process, in turn, gives this artwork its full meaning, a testament to both individual skill and collective human endeavor.