Paisaje de San Bernardino 1892

Arturo Michelena painted this landscape of San Bernardino using oil on canvas. The scene is rendered with loose brushwork, typical of academic painting. The paint itself is manipulated to evoke the textures of the landscape. The image is striking, yet subtle, offering a glimpse into everyday life. The social context is palpable in the depiction of labor. Look at the way Michelena uses the materiality of paint to construct the scene. The woman in the foreground, perhaps engaged in washing clothes, and the man working in the fields, suggest the division of labor inherent in rural society. The painting’s composition directs our attention to the land. Michelena’s work makes us consider the relationship between the materials of painting, the act of labor depicted, and the social structure that binds them together. Ultimately, this painting encourages us to look beyond the surface and consider the deeper connections between art, labor, and society.