Island Village, Coast of Maine 1909

Rockwell Kent created "Island Village, Coast of Maine" using oil paint on canvas. Kent chose traditional materials, but his approach was anything but traditional. Look at the surface of the canvas: its smoothness reflects the artist's mastery over his medium. The paint has been applied in layers to create depth and texture. The skilled labor required to produce such a work is evident, reflecting a deep understanding of material properties and their potential for expression. It is a testament to the traditions of painting, but also highlights the social context in which art is produced and consumed. Consider the labor of extracting and processing the raw materials for oil paint, the weaving of the canvas, and the artist's own work in creating the image. Kent challenges traditional notions of fine art by emphasizing the material basis of artistic production, inviting us to consider the value of skilled labor in all its forms.