Saint Servan 

Camille Corot made this evocative painting with oil on canvas. Corot was a master of atmospheric perspective, and that depended entirely on the materiality of his chosen medium. Oil paint is made by suspending pigment in oil, and this allows for a smooth, almost imperceptible blending of tones. Corot was especially known for his subtle gradations of gray and green, achieved by layering thin glazes of paint. Look closely, and you can see the brushstrokes themselves almost disappear into the overall effect. While Corot was celebrated in his own time, it's worth remembering that his method was based on observation and patient technique. Oil painting demands an immersive process, attuned to the qualities of the material itself. This intimate process and dedication to observation challenges the traditional hierarchy that separates craft from fine art.