White Houses 1939

John Sante made this painting, "White Houses", with broad brushstrokes of white and black paint. The stark contrast influences its appearance, lending a graphic quality to the image, and the loose application gives it an immediacy as if the scene was quickly captured en plein air. Sante seems less concerned with precise representation and more interested in conveying the mood and atmosphere of this community of houses. The brushwork is gestural and expressive, imbuing the artwork with a sense of vitality. We don't know when Sante made "White Houses", but it is evident that he engaged with the painterly tradition of landscape art. He used inexpensive and easily accessible materials like canvas, brush, and paint, as well as his own labor. He was likely influenced by wider social issues of class and labor, making the work a reflection of a particular time and place. Understanding "White Houses" involves appreciating the materials, making, and context, blurring traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.