The Turkeys 1876

Claude Monet’s "The Turkeys" is an oil painting that captures a flock of turkeys in a field. Monet uses a technique that is rooted in materiality. He applied strokes of paint, one after another, to give the impression of light and movement, allowing the material qualities of the paint to be seen. This technique captures the essence of the scene. The short, broken brushstrokes define the form of the turkeys and the field, while the thick application of paint gives texture. The texture is a key component, as the rough surface quality and the impression of reality. The painting’s lively surface shows the hand of the artist at work, and reveals the artistry in the painting’s making. Considering the context, painting with oils was an established form of artistic expression at the time. Monet was working within a tradition, yet pushing its boundaries by focusing on the material qualities of the paint, bringing attention to the craft.