Crépuscule Aux Hortensias 1918

Maurice Denis made "Crépuscule Aux Hortensias" with oil on canvas. Rather than creating an illusionistic window onto the world, he built the image carefully, stroke by stroke. Denis was a key figure in the Symbolist movement, which was deeply invested in craft. Just look at how the paint has been deliberately applied. Denis thinned the oil paint to create a matte surface, almost like fresco. It’s easy to imagine him carefully layering each colour, one after the other, to create the overall effect of the scene, with great attention to the textural nuances and emotional resonance of color. The care and attention put into the crafting of "Crépuscule Aux Hortensias" gives it a haptic quality, inviting the viewer to consider the relationship between the artist's hand, the materials used, and the emotional and spiritual meaning of the artwork. In so doing, Denis challenged traditional hierarchies of art, placing value on the labor and skill involved in making.