At Alban Hills 1851

Arnold Böcklin painted "At Alban Hills" with oils on canvas, a traditional process going back centuries. However, the way Böcklin layers and manipulates the paint is key to understanding the work. Note the impasto, the thick application of paint, especially in the foliage. This gives a tangible, almost sculptural quality. Böcklin built up these textures layer by layer, allowing the colors to mix optically rather than directly on the palette. This attention to the material quality of paint itself elevates the painting beyond mere representation. The artwork involved considerable labor, from preparing the canvas to grinding pigments and applying multiple layers of paint. Böcklin's skillful manipulation of oil paint, a material derived from the natural world, imbues the landscape with a sense of depth, atmosphere, and even, perhaps, a touch of the sublime. By attending to the materials and processes of "At Alban Hills," we can appreciate the artist's craft and gain a fuller understanding of the work.