La Butte 1892

Santiago Rusiñol created ‘La Butte’ using oil paint, a material with a rich history dating back centuries. The texture of the paint applied onto the canvas allows for a rich visual experience. Rusiñol skillfully uses brushstrokes to create an evocative scene. You can almost feel the cold air. The consistent application of paint is a mark of the artist's training and expertise with the medium. But, in this case, he is not aiming for hyper-realism, but instead rendering a sensation of place. Oil paint's versatility allowed Rusiñol to capture the subtle changes in light and the textures of the urban landscape. The act of painting itself, with its physical engagement, connects Rusiñol to a tradition of craftsmanship. Through his mastery of the materials and processes, Rusiñol elevated the everyday into something worthy of contemplation, blurring the lines between the fine arts and the crafts.