Thunderstorm landscape 

Josef Kriehuber’s “Thunderstorm Landscape” was painted with oils on canvas in the 19th century, a period when this was the standard choice for artists. The key here is the way that Kriehuber has built up the image, layer upon layer. Notice how the darkness of the impending storm is created, achieved through thin washes of pigment. See the texture of the brushstrokes, particularly in the foreground and turbulent waves. It’s a carefully constructed scene. The artist is using the very qualities of the oil paint - its viscosity, its capacity for blending, its ability to capture light. What is most interesting here is that Kriehuber did not witness or experience this thunderstorm landscape, and this is an idealized scene. It is not meant to be a mirror reflection of reality, but rather an invitation to observe, meditate, and reflect on the sublimity of nature. The artist is not only creating a work of art, but also crafting an experience. Through understanding the materials, the methods, and the context of its making, we can appreciate the full effect and meaning of the work.