Thunder Clouds over the Chiemsee 1867

Hans Gude captured these 'Thunder Clouds over the Chiemsee' in 1867, using oil paints on what looks like a commercially primed canvas. The visible brushwork is so important here. It's not about illusionism, but about the physical properties of paint. Notice how Gude hasn't blended the pigment perfectly, allowing the eye to mix the colors. This gives the sky a sense of depth and movement. The painting speaks to the rise of industrial production, and the new availability of ready-made art supplies. Tubes of oil paint allowed artists to work outdoors, capturing fleeting moments in nature. But the easy access to these materials also raises questions about artistic labor. Was Gude celebrating nature, or simply producing a commodity for an art market increasingly driven by consumerism? Ultimately, understanding the material and the making helps us appreciate the complex relationship between art, industry, and the changing landscape of 19th-century Europe.