Path under the Rose Trellises, Giverny 1922

This riotous painting was made by Claude Monet, using oil paint on canvas. He applied the paint in thick, visible strokes. The painting’s materiality is defined by the artist's unique and physical engagement with the surface. The built-up texture is impossible to ignore. The materiality of the artwork deeply influences its appearance, particularly the qualities of texture, weight, color and form. Monet uses broken color to create light and atmosphere. The dabs of paint seem to vibrate on the canvas. Monet's engagement with the canvas is almost visceral, hinting at the labor and time invested in this process. But the artwork is not only about skill or labor, it also reflects a new culture of leisure. By emphasizing the materials, making, and the social context, the distinctions between fine art and craft begin to blur.