What is oil painting and why does it still fascinate?
Oil painting is an artistic technique that has remained the most popular way of creating paintings in the world for centuries. Its phenomenon lies in the unique properties of oil paints — pigments suspended in vegetable oil, most often linseed oil. It is this seemingly simple composition that allows artists to achieve unrivalled depth of colour, subtle tonal transitions and works that endure for centuries.
Oil paints are distinguished by their slow drying time, which gives painters remarkable freedom to work on details, mix colours directly on the canvas and make corrections. This technical flexibility means that oil painting remains the choice of classical realists and contemporary artists experimenting with form alike.
The history of oil painting — from the Middle Ages to the present day
The beginnings of the oil technique
Although oil paints were known in antiquity, they truly flourished in the 15th century in the Netherlands. Jan van Eyck, often called the father of oil painting, perfected the technique to such a degree that his works amazed the art world of his time. The Netherlandish masters discovered that oil made it possible to create transparent layers of paint — so-called glazes — which give paintings extraordinary depth and luminosity.
The Renaissance and the Italian masters
In the 16th century the oil technique conquered Italy, where it was adopted by such giants as Leonardo da Vinci, Titian and Caravaggio. The Italian masters exploited the possibilities of oil paint to perfection, creating works of previously unseen psychological depth and drama. Oil painting then became the principal technique for creating great works of art.
From the Baroque to the present day
The following centuries brought further development of the oil technique. Rembrandt was fascinated by the play of light and shadow, the Impressionists discovered the possibility of painting with quick brushstrokes en plein air, and the Modernists experimented with texture and the thickness of the paint layer. Today oil painting continues to evolve, combining tradition with modern artistic approaches.
The technique of painting with oils
Basic materials and preparation
Working in oils requires the right materials:
- Oil paints — pigments suspended in linseed or poppy oil
- Support — most often canvas stretched over a stretcher frame, or a wooden panel
- Brushes — of various sizes and shapes, with natural or synthetic bristles
- Thinners — turpentine or odourless mineral spirits for thinning the paint
- Palette — for mixing colours
- Easel — providing a comfortable painting position
Methods of applying paint
Oil painting offers artists many techniques for applying paint. The most important are:
- Layered technique (alla prima) — painting wet-on-wet, popular among the Impressionists
- Glazes — applying transparent layers of paint that create depth and luminosity
- Impasto — applying paint thickly, creating a pronounced texture
- Glazing — a technique of applying successive transparent layers once the previous ones have dried
The “fat over lean” rule
The fundamental rule in oil painting is “fat over lean”. It means that each successive layer of paint should contain more oil than the one before. Following this rule prevents the surface of the painting from cracking over time and ensures it lasts for many years.
Why do artists still choose oil painting?
Unrivalled depth and richness of colour
Oil paints offer the widest range of colours and the ability to achieve exceptional depth of colour. Pigments suspended in oil retain their intensity for centuries, and the glazing technique makes it possible to create effects that cannot be achieved with other media. This is why artists working in magical realism, such as Magdalena Dziejma, often choose oil as their main medium.
Flexibility and the possibility of corrections
The slow drying of oil paints, though it requires patience, gives artists remarkable freedom. You can work on one part of a painting for many hours, mix colours directly on the canvas and, if necessary, scrape off and rework unsuccessful passages. This flexibility is invaluable when creating complex compositions.
Durability and resistance to time
Properly executed oil paintings are among the most durable works of art. The works of the Old Masters have survived for centuries with their splendour intact, which makes oil painting an excellent choice for artists who think about the legacy of their work for future generations.
Oil painting in contemporary art
Contemporary artists continue the centuries-old tradition of oil painting while introducing their own innovations. Magical realism, a movement that combines precise technique with a symbolic, dreamlike message, makes perfect use of the possibilities of oil paint. One example is the painting “Flowers of the Phoenix” by Magdalena Dziejma — a work in oil on canvas in which the oil technique achieves extraordinary depth and luminosity, emphasising the symbolic dimension of the image.
Today’s oil painters experiment with the thickness of texture, combine traditional methods with modern approaches, and sometimes even mix oils with acrylics or other media. This openness to experimentation, combined with respect for tradition, is the essence of contemporary oil painting.
How to start your journey with oil painting?
For beginners, oil painting may seem demanding, but with the right approach anyone can master the technique. The key is:
- Investing in good-quality paints — they don’t have to be the most expensive, but they should contain high-quality pigments
- Learning colour theory and the basics of composition
- Patience — oil painting requires time for successive layers to dry
- Regular practice and experimenting with different techniques
- Studying the work of the masters — both classical and contemporary
Summary — the timeless value of oil painting
Oil painting remains one of the noblest forms of artistic expression. Its centuries-long history, technical versatility and unrivalled depth of expression mean that it continues to fascinate artists and art lovers alike. From the Renaissance masters to contemporary artists — oil paints remain the medium that allows the fullest expression of an artistic vision.
Whether in classical realism or in magical, symbolic images, oil painting offers endless possibilities for expression. It is precisely this universality and timelessness that ensure this technique will never stop fascinating new generations of artists and art lovers.