High Fives 

“High Fives” is an oil on canvas painting, by the 20th-century artist Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze. The painting depicts a figure reclining, and the choice of oil paint allows for expressive brushwork and rich color. Notice the artist's technique: thick layers of pigment applied in broad strokes, creating texture and depth. The painting appears to be a traditional medium but the gestural marks and visible brushstrokes give it an immediacy that feels contemporary. The process of oil painting is labor-intensive, requiring time, skill, and careful manipulation of materials. Here, the artist's hand is evident in every stroke, blurring the line between representation and abstraction. The subject's languid pose may suggest a moment of leisure, but the painting's physicality reminds us of the work involved in its creation. Ultimately, “High Fives” invites us to consider the relationship between the artist's labor, the materiality of paint, and the cultural significance of representation. It challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, emphasizing the importance of process and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.