David and Dorelia in Normandy 1908

Augustus John painted David and Dorelia in Normandy with oil on canvas, likely en plein air. The material qualities here have everything to do with the painting's quick, gestural handling, which gives it such immediacy. Look closely, and you'll see how John loaded up his brush and applied the paint with confidence. This way of working was typical of Impressionism, where the goal was to capture a fleeting moment. But it also speaks to the social context of art production at the time. Artists like John could increasingly produce paintings quickly and efficiently, making art more accessible. The materiality of oil paint, with its capacity for blending and layering, allowed John to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It is not overworked, so it has a freshness, which in turn gives the painting an informal, relaxed quality. Ultimately, this work reminds us that materials and making are never neutral, they always carry cultural and social meanings that shape our understanding of art.