Asters in a Vase, Henri Fantin-Latour (1875)
Henri Fantin-Latour focused his creative attention on the furnishings and inhabitants of interior spaces. This still-life is a superb example of his virtuosic ability to create illusionistic space and capture minute detail. The artist covered a sketch with a thicker layer of paint, then scraped it to create texture. He then applied thin washes of oil paint to produce a shimmering effect. This technique of applying touches of color was pursued more fully by his Impressionist peers who valued spontaneity rather than description.
                                
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