Wooded Landscape with Hunters 1628 - 1686

Jacques d’ Arthois painted this landscape with hunters using oil on canvas sometime in the 17th century. The tangible qualities of oil paint, its viscosity and luminosity, are skillfully used to convey the scene. Consider how d' Arthois used traditional, time-honored techniques of layering and blending to create texture and depth. The paint is applied with varying degrees of thickness, from smooth gradients in the sky to rougher, impasto-like strokes in the foliage, building up the impression of a dense, natural environment. These techniques are crucial to establishing the atmospheric qualities of the painting, drawing on centuries of artistic knowledge. It's worth remembering that the pigments used to create the colours were derived from ground minerals and plants, reflecting the resources available in the artist's time. By emphasizing the materiality and techniques involved, we gain a more grounded understanding of the artwork, blurring the lines between traditional fine art and skilled craft.