Laguna Rocks, Low Tide 1916

Rose O’Neill captured the coast in Laguna Rocks, Low Tide, using oil on canvas. The textures and colors in the painting are all impacted by the artist's technique. Thick, visible brushstrokes create a sense of movement and liveliness. The colors, ranging from deep browns and greens in the rocks to soft blues and whites in the ocean, reflect the natural environment. The materiality of the oil paint, its viscosity and opacity, enables O'Neill to build up layers, add depth, and reflect the play of light and shadow on the rocks and water. O’Neill engaged with the traditions of landscape painting but departed from academic art by embracing a more subjective, expressive style. Her approach reflects a wider shift towards impressionism, prioritizing individual experience and emotion. Through a close look at materiality, making, and context, we can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning, thus challenging the distinctions between fine art and craft.