Morning of Life 

Asher Brown Durand created "Morning of Life" with oil on canvas. The labor involved in producing paintings is often overlooked, but here, we might consider what it takes to conjure this scene. Durand skillfully blends pigments to create an almost photorealistic depth. The pastoral scene is meticulously rendered; think of the hours taken to build up these layers of paint. The texture, almost imperceptible, adds to the realism, as does the way Durand captures the light and shadow. This wasn't just about technical mastery, though. The Hudson River School of artists believed that the American landscape was a manifestation of the divine. By creating this scene, Durand wasn’t merely depicting a landscape; he was elevating the natural world to the status of high art. So next time you look at a painting, consider the physical effort, the materials used, and the cultural values that the artist is trying to convey. These elements are just as crucial as the subject matter in understanding the work's complete story.