Landscape from Ulvin 1889

'Landscape from Ulvin' was made by Harriet Backer, using oil paints, a very traditional fine art material. The qualities of oil paint lend themselves so well to capturing the atmosphere of this Norwegian landscape. You can almost feel the freshness in the air. Note how Backer used a variety of brushstrokes, from the soft blending in the sky to the more textured touches on the trees and fields, skillfully building up layers of color to create depth and form. But let's also consider what isn't here. Unlike so many nineteenth-century landscape paintings, there are no figures in the scene, and no signs of labor. The fields, dotted with barns, seem almost untouched. We’re left to wonder about the human presence, or absence, in this scene. This connection to the land has always been central to both craft and fine art. By focusing on the materials and the making, we appreciate the skill involved, and the cultural values embedded in the work.