Seascape in the Morning (Estuary at Dawn) 1645

Simon de Vlieger made this oil on panel, Seascape in the Morning, sometime in the mid-17th century. While we often think of painting as being about what is depicted, consider how much the physical properties of oil paint contribute to this seascape. Look closely and you can see de Vlieger built up thin layers of pigment, manipulating its viscosity with linseed oil or perhaps turpentine, to create effects of light and atmosphere. The way the paint sits on the panel – its sheen, its texture, its ability to mimic the soft light of dawn – is as much the subject of the artwork as the boats and figures. The labor involved is less about physical exertion, and more about technical mastery of the medium. De Vlieger's skill elevated the status of painting from a craft to a fine art, but it’s important to remember that “fine art” is itself a kind of skilled craftwork, and that the work of the hand is ever present.