Fig Trees, Antibes 1910

Rose O’Neill created this landscape painting, “Fig Trees, Antibes,” using oil paints. The medium influences the appearance of the artwork. Look closely at the brushstrokes, how she’s loaded up the paint to create a sense of texture, almost like the trees are emerging from the canvas. She is part of a generation of artists exploring the materiality of oil paint, building on impressionist techniques, but also anticipating later experiments, like abstract expressionism. Consider the labor involved in creating this painting – from preparing the canvas and mixing the paints, to the physical act of applying the paint to the surface. The use of oil paint connects this work to a long history of artistic tradition, yet the emphasis on texture and visible brushstrokes pushes beyond academic conventions. By focusing on materials, processes, and social context, we can see how this painting challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the artist's skill and vision.