Regenbogentänzer-Dreamdancer 

Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze made this painting, Regenbogentänzer-Dreamdancer, using oil paint applied to canvas. This is a traditional art material, and it is the way it is worked that gives the painting its distinct quality. Take a close look at the surface. Notice how the artist has applied the oil paint in a range of marks: broad brushstrokes for the background, and delicate, sinuous lines to define the figures. These are applied with varying degrees of intensity, from thick and opaque to thinned and transparent. We can see the layering of the different colours, each application building up a rich surface texture. The artist is deliberately leaving traces of the making process visible. Oil painting is often associated with the idea of ​​artistic skill and creative labour. While it is undoubtedly a craft, Edlinger-Kunze elevates the process, so we perceive her work as a form of thoughtful labour and self-expression. By understanding the materials and processes involved, we gain a deeper appreciation of the artist's vision and the social context in which it was created.