Farmhouses with Birch Trees 1900

Gustav Klimt’s painting, "Farmhouses with Birch Trees" captures a landscape on an 80 by 80-centimeter canvas, through the medium of oil paint. Klimt's application of paint is quite remarkable; he’s created a tapestry of color and texture. The birch trees are rendered with delicate vertical strokes, contrasting with the field’s more diffused palette, with visible brushstrokes. The density of detail in the field suggests an almost obsessive attention to capturing the richness of nature. This technique reflects a broader cultural interest in the natural world. The labor involved in creating this kind of image shouldn't be overlooked. Klimt invested considerable time and effort in building up layers of paint, in turn creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. Looking closely at the materials and process employed by the artist invites us to think about the value we place on both artistic skill, and the environments they represent.