Rose de la Montagne 1991

Olivier Debre made this painting, "Rose de la Montagne," with oil paint on canvas, an archetypal pairing in the history of fine art. But look closely, and you'll notice the ways in which Debre emphasizes the sheer viscosity of his medium. The oil paint has been applied in thick, creamy layers, and in some areas, such as on the right side of the canvas, you can see the marks left by the artist's brush. The texture created by these deliberate strokes brings a tactile quality to the work, almost as if you could reach out and feel the ridges and valleys of the paint surface. Notice how he leaves areas of the canvas bare, allowing the support to peek through and participate in the composition. By foregrounding the materiality of his medium, and the active hand of the artist, Debre reminds us that a painting is first and foremost an object. This emphasis on the qualities of the material invites us to appreciate the sheer physicality of the work, and to consider the labor and skill involved in its production.