Rose O'Neill painted 'Laguna' using traditional materials – oil on canvas, likely working en plein air. It's fascinating how O'Neill handles the paint. Her short brushstrokes and use of light give a sense of immediacy. You can almost feel the coastal breeze and smell the salty air. Notice how the texture of the paint mimics the ruggedness of the cliffs and the movement of the water. O'Neill’s technique aligns her with Impressionism, a movement that was relatively new at the time, but she also had a successful career as a commercial illustrator, one of the most highly paid in America. What this reminds us is that artists often moved between different registers of production, and that the distinctions that we might now draw between fine art and popular culture would have meant a great deal less to them.