Landscape with a Pond 

Jules Dupré, active in 19th-century France, made this landscape with a pond using oil paint on canvas. Dupre´s expressive brushwork shows us how the material qualities of paint can be used to capture a sense of place. Think about the labor involved in creating this image, from grinding pigments to stretching the canvas, each step is part of a long material history. The texture and viscosity of the oil paint allow the artist to build up layers, creating depth and atmosphere. Look closely and you'll notice the way the paint mimics the lushness of the landscape. Dupré was part of the Barbizon School, a group of artists who rejected the industrialized city in favor of the French countryside. In this work, he invites us to consider the relationship between humanity and nature at a time of rapid social and economic change. By paying attention to both materials and making, we can better understand how the artistic process reflects the wider world.