Christmas Eve 

This evocative painting, Christmas Eve, was realized by George Inness in 1866, using oil paints. What’s most striking is the way Inness layered different values of dark color, conjuring depth and dimension to the work. It has a strong feeling of immediacy. This comes through the artist's manipulation of his medium, particularly in the contrast between the sky, the trees, and the figure walking on the path. The sky is brought to life, with the thinnest glazes of paint applied in luminous layers; whereas the figure and foreground are rendered in impasto, where the paint is thickly laid on the surface to catch the light. Such skillful handling speaks to Inness’s art education, acquired over years of practice, both in the studio and ‘en plein air’, that is, outside. His ability to convey the essence of the landscape through the sheer act of painting challenges the distinction between craft and fine art.