Interior cu garoafe 

Curator: Stefan Luchian’s *Interior cu garoafe* is a painting dripping with red hues and subtle, domestic comforts. I am immediately struck by the textural brushstrokes of the oil paint; it feels almost tactile, and is immediately what catches my eye. What do you think? Editor: Well, the subject matter appears pretty traditional. I am curious, given that it is an Impressionist work, how you would analyze it in terms of the actual physical making. What elements particularly highlight the construction of this scene? Curator: Notice how Luchian isn’t simply representing objects; he's constructing an *experience* of those objects through material. Consider the thick impasto, building up the red of the carnations. He uses material to invoke feeling, to explore beyond just pure optical representation. Look how the application of color dictates the boundaries of objects: what does this tell us about artistic choices during the time it was created, compared to say the Dutch Golden Age? Editor: So, you're suggesting the *how* of painting, the application and even the texture of the oil itself, carries as much meaning as *what* is depicted? The materiality reflects changing artistic and societal values. I think the way we now see painting techniques adds a valuable perspective! Curator: Precisely! What might the availability of oil paints in tubes – a relatively new invention at the time – have meant for artists like Luchian? Consider the shift away from strictly commissioned work within the Academy, to a more independent artist in control of their production; it can inform a totally different story of the art! What sort of labor went into preparing paint before its pre-packaged production, and what impact did the change in industrial procedures have? Editor: The history of *making* paintings—who has access to the means of production, how the artist's labor changes because of it, where they choose to work – this can give us a tangible entry point, where materials can really talk. Thanks, this was great food for thought.