Trees and undergrowth 1887

Vincent van Gogh made this painting, "Trees and Undergrowth," with oil paint on canvas, in an unknown location and year. Looking closely, you can see how Van Gogh built up the image with short, energetic strokes. The materiality of the paint itself—its thickness, its viscosity—is on full display. This approach breaks with academic painting traditions, where artists tried to hide their brushwork. What he's doing here might seem far removed from industrial production, but actually, ready-made paints in tubes were a relatively new convenience at this time, produced in factories and available for anyone to buy. Van Gogh's turn to landscape allowed him to engage with the social and political issues of his time. Here, rather than portraying laborers directly, the artist explores a natural setting, seemingly untouched by industrialization, in this vibrant work. So, when you look at this painting, consider not just what is represented, but how the very act of painting, facilitated by new materials, helped Van Gogh express his vision and his social context.