Wallow Crag 1862

George Stanfield Walters painted 'Wallow Crag' using oil on canvas, a traditional material that goes back centuries. The artist has built up the paint in layers to create depth and texture. Look closely, and you can see how he used brushstrokes to mimic the textures of the natural world. In the foreground, the thick impasto of the foliage contrasts with the smoother rendering of the distant hills. It's important to remember that even landscape painting involves labor. The canvas had to be prepared, the paints mixed, and the image painstakingly built up, layer by layer. Oil painting was already a well-established medium by the time Walters was working, but it's a good reminder that even seemingly straightforward landscape painting involves a complex interplay of material, process, and skill. By understanding the work that went into its making, we can appreciate the painting all the more.