San Giorgio. View of the Mole 1906

Clarence Gagnon created this painting of Venice using oil on canvas. The brushstrokes are loose and visible, giving a sense of spontaneity and immediacy to the work. He captures the atmospheric effects of light and water using a technique that was rooted in impressionism. The figures are rendered with simple forms, suggesting that Gagnon was more interested in capturing the scene’s overall impression, rather than the detailed rendering of its components. Oil painting itself has a complex history, tied to the development of global trade networks, and the sourcing of raw materials like pigments and linseed oil. Artists were dependent on a network of suppliers, which in turn was tied to colonial exploitation and resource extraction. Considering these aspects broadens our perspective, reminding us that the making of art is always embedded in social, economic, and political realities.