Saint Francis Receiving The Stigmata 

El Greco painted Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata, using oil paint, probably sometime around the turn of the 17th century. Look closely, and you’ll see how El Greco has built up the image from layers of fluid brushstrokes. This approach, called “alla prima,” was not about careful blending. Instead, it emphasized the direct application of paint, with an emphasis on speed and intuition. Oil paint itself allowed for this type of freedom, as it could be easily manipulated while wet. The effect is to give the image a sense of immediacy. But it's not just about the artist's touch, it's also about the subject matter: Saint Francis, in the midst of a profound spiritual experience. The dynamism of the paint handling helps to capture the intensity of that moment. The visible brushwork connects the viewer to the very act of creation, collapsing the distance between the painted image and the experience it represents. The distinction between sacred and profane blurs, and the making of art itself becomes a form of devotion.