A Fish 

Jean David created this painting, entitled 'A Fish,' with oils, brushes, and canvas. These are conventional materials, but notice how David works with them. It's not about painterly illusionism. It's about the presence of the paint itself. Look at the way he’s built up the surface. Each brushstroke is visible, creating a textured, almost tactile surface. The layers of paint give the fish a sense of depth and weight. It seems solid, almost like a sculpture. See how he's handled the scales, with repetitive flicks of the brush to create a mosaic-like pattern? All that labor to make a humble fish on a plate. It's not about luxury or status. It’s an everyday scene transformed by the deliberate act of making.