Mountainous Landscape 

Salvator Rosa painted this Mountainous Landscape in the 17th century using oil on canvas, materials that were quite conventional for artists of his time. But Rosa wasn't interested in conventional landscape scenes. He leaned into the material qualities of oil paint, achieving a heightened sense of drama, and making the earth tones come alive. The rough textures, deep shadows, and broken brushwork create a scene that feels untamed, even dangerous. The rapid, gestural application of paint adds to this emotional intensity. Rosa was fascinated by the social realities of the landscape, and he often incorporated bandits, soldiers, and other marginal figures into his compositions. These details invite us to consider the labor and social context that shaped the Italian landscape. Rosa used the traditional medium of oil paint in a way that challenged the established norms of landscape painting. He reminds us that art is not just about technical skill; it’s about using materials to explore deeper cultural meanings.