Cows 1890

Vincent van Gogh created "Cows" using oil paint on canvas, a fairly conventional choice for the time. But look closely, and you'll see how he handled the material. It's laid on with a heavy hand, each stroke distinct, almost like individual tiles in a mosaic. This wasn't just about depicting cows; it was about the very act of painting. The texture becomes a crucial part of the image, animating the surface and giving it a life of its own. Consider the physical labor involved in this approach. The repetitive, deliberate application of paint speaks to a kind of devotion, a commitment to the handmade in an increasingly industrialized world. Van Gogh elevates the ordinary – cows in a field – through the sheer intensity of his method. By emphasizing the material and the making, he blurred the line between subject and process, inviting us to appreciate the artistry in every brushstroke. This challenges us to see the value not just in what is depicted, but in how it is made.