The head of bulldog 

This study of a bulldog’s head was painted in the early 19th century by Théodore Géricault, using oil on canvas. Look closely and you'll notice the artist's process. Géricault applied the paint in loose, gestural strokes. The materiality of the oil paint itself – its viscosity and sheen – is emphasized. This evokes the texture of the dog’s fur, and captures the animal’s muscularity. This direct, almost visceral approach was typical of Géricault, placing him in the tradition of Romanticism. But it also shows an artisanal engagement with his medium. The way he manipulates the oil paint isn't so different from how a sculptor might model clay. He layers light over dark to create a powerful sense of three-dimensionality. By attending to these aspects of making, we see how Géricault extended the established techniques of painting in ways that resonate with more tactile creative practices.