Landscape with Houses 

Alexandru Ciucurencu made this landscape painting with oil on canvas. You can see how the material influences the appearance of the artwork, especially with the thickness and texture of the oil paint. The brushstrokes are clearly visible, creating a tactile surface that captures the essence of the scene. Ciucurencu likely used brushes of varying sizes to achieve different effects, from broad strokes for the sky and ground to finer lines for details like windows and foliage. The vibrant colors, applied with a sense of spontaneity, imbue the painting with life and energy. Historically, painting has often been viewed as a pursuit distinct from craft, yet the act of applying paint to canvas requires a level of skill and dexterity comparable to many craft traditions. By focusing on the materiality of the paint itself, we can appreciate the labor and craftsmanship involved in creating this artwork, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.