A Study on Brushstrokes and Texture in Oil Painting

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Sun Yao’s monograph “A Study on Brushstrokes and Texture in Oil Painting,” was published by Wenhui Publishing House in November 2014. The book explores the evolution of oil painting through the lens of brushstrokes and texture, skillfully integrating these elements into a broader theoretical framework. The book provides a nuanced examination of the pivotal role that brushstrokes and texture play in oil painting. 

The first chapter lays the groundwork by defining the fundamental concepts of brushstroke and texture, tracing the historical development of oil painting, and examining the significance of these visual elements as mediums for artistic representation and expression.

The second chapter explains the formal elements of brushstroke and texture. Beginning with the pursuit of self-sufficiency in oil painting, it explores the significance of brushstrokes and texture as form, while also further elaborating on the limitations and dilemmas inherent in formalist expressive theory.

The third chapter navigates the intersection of artistic expression and philosophical inquiry, drawing upon the insights of phenomenology and existentialist philosophy to reexamine the relationship between oil paintings and the objects they represent. Through a nuanced analysis of perception and ontology, this chapter argues that brushstrokes and texture serve as more than just visual elements — they embody the reciprocal relationship between human beings and the world. As such, they constitute the locus where truth and meaning converge in the creative process.