Rustic Shed 

William Collins painted ‘Rustic Shed’ with oil on canvas, showing a scene of rural life. Notice how the textures of the shed, thatch, and foliage are rendered with thick, visible brushstrokes, almost like an impasto effect. Collins clearly delights in the materiality of paint, using it to mimic the rough surfaces of the shed's wooden planks, and the dense thatching of the roof. The painting also hints at social context, referencing traditional building methods with the use of readily available materials like wood and straw. The figure operating the well suggests the daily labor of rural life. It is important to consider that these ordinary materials and scenes held appeal to viewers at the time as subjects worthy of artistic attention. Collins elevates everyday life, challenging conventional hierarchies of subject matter in fine art.