Stradă din Sevilla 1920

Here is Samuel Mutzner's rendering of a street in Seville, presumably made with oil paint on canvas. The artist's expressive handling of paint in this artwork is worth noting. The tactile nature of the medium is evident in the thick brushstrokes, which gives the scene depth. The surface quality emphasizes the painting's materiality, its status as a made thing. Rather than creating an illusionistic window onto the world, Mutzner foregrounds the act of painting itself, as you can see from the visible brushstrokes. The artist doesn't hide the labor involved in making it. By doing so, he acknowledges the role of the artist as a skilled worker. It is a reminder that art-making is a form of labor, tied to economic realities and social contexts. This perspective challenges the traditional view of art as solely the product of individual genius, urging us to consider the broader implications of artistic production.