Street in Auvers-sur-Oise 1890

Vincent van Gogh painted this street scene in Auvers-sur-Oise using oil on canvas. His loaded brushstrokes create a highly textured surface, almost like a mosaic of color. Looking closely, you can see how the materiality of the paint itself contributes to the overall effect. It's not just about depicting a street; it's about the physical act of applying paint to canvas. Each stroke is a record of his gesture, his energy, and the sheer labor involved in making the artwork. Van Gogh’s thick application can be viewed in relation to artisanal methods, where the quality of the maker's touch is paramount. Yet here, it's channeled into a mass-produced medium—oil paint—to depict a distinctly modern scene. The artist's process transforms the scene into something vibrant and alive. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we can appreciate how Van Gogh blurred the boundaries between craft and fine art, infusing his personal experience into the landscape.