Landscape 1883

Isaac Levitan captured this landscape with oil on canvas, employing techniques that blur the lines between observation and emotional expression. Levitan used brushes to build up layers of paint, creating textures that mimic the natural world. Look closely, and you'll see how the varying strokes suggest the density of foliage, the softness of clouds, and the reflective quality of the water. The material qualities of oil paint itself – its viscosity, its capacity for blending – play a crucial role here. The quick application of the wet paint evokes a sense of immediacy, as if the scene were captured in a fleeting moment. Paint was becoming increasingly available in tubes at this time, so Levitan could easily paint 'en plein air' or outdoors. The painting embodies a Romantic sensibility, focusing on the beauty of the Russian countryside. By focusing on the materiality and making of the work, we see how the making and materials are essential to its emotional impact.