From the Mountains 1849

Hans Gude painted this landscape, ‘From the Mountains’ in 1849, using oil on canvas. Oil paint is a wonderfully flexible material, capable of rendering fine detail or, as we see here, broad atmospheric effects. Look closely, and you'll see how Gude has built up the image through layers, or glazes, of diluted pigment. The rough texture of the rocks in the foreground contrasts with the smooth, almost ethereal quality of the distant mountains. This material approach heightens the sense of depth and vastness. Gude clearly understood how to coax the oil paint to represent the physical properties of the natural world. The heavy impasto of the rocks conveys their weight and solidity, while the thin washes of color in the sky evoke the fluidity and ephemerality of the atmosphere. The very act of painting becomes a kind of craft. It's a reminder that materials, making, and context are crucial to truly grasp the full meaning of the artwork. This challenges the traditional separation between fine art and craft.