Lake and Blue Mountains of Connemara 

Paul Henry’s painting, "Lake and Blue Mountains of Connemara," captures a specific view of the Irish landscape with oil on canvas. The material qualities of the oil paint are essential here. Notice how Henry uses brushstrokes to build texture, mimicking the roughness of the land and the softness of the clouds. The painting is not just a representation; it's an artifact of its making. The layering of paint gives the scene depth and a tangible quality, inviting us to imagine the physical act of the artist applying each stroke. Henry isn’t working in an abstract mode, but he’s definitely interested in the formal properties of his medium, in the balance and harmony that can be achieved when pigment meets surface. This engagement elevates what might otherwise be seen as simple landscape painting. It demonstrates the importance of process and material in understanding the full meaning of the artwork.