Reverie 

Kimon Loghi created this painting, Reverie, with oil paint, a classic medium carrying centuries of artistic tradition. But look closer, and you see Loghi wasn’t interested in smooth blending. Instead, he applied the paint in thick impasto strokes, especially in the foliage and the woman’s dress. This technique, where the paint itself becomes almost sculptural, enlivens the scene with texture. Now, think about the implications of this approach. Oil paint, though refined, is ultimately derived from raw materials, requiring labor-intensive processing. Loghi's expressive brushwork celebrates the material quality of the pigment itself. It’s a far cry from the slick surfaces and mass-produced imagery of consumer culture, instead emphasizing a direct connection to the physical world and the artist's hand. By foregrounding the materiality of his medium, Loghi elevates the act of painting itself, reminding us that art is not just about representation but about the tangible act of creation.