Texture is the sensation perceived from the surface of objects, primarily experienced through the sense of touch and the sense of sight. It is a crucial element of expression in almost all fields of visual art, including painting, photography, and sculpture. Today, we will specifically explore how texture is expressed, focusing on painting and photography.

Texture in Painting

In painting, texture often refers to the physical texture formed by the application of paint on the canvas surface. However, it can also be expressed in highly diverse ways depending on the type and consistency of the paint, as well as the direction and strength of the brushstrokes.

For instance, Vincent van Gogh's 'The Starry Night (1889)' is a work where the expression of texture is particularly prominent. This painting is based on the night view from the window of the asylum where Van Gogh stayed a year before his death. Although the rural night would have been dark, Van Gogh conveys intense energy through the swirling sky and rough brushwork. The texture, expressed with thick oil paint and dynamic strokes, directly reveals the artist's psychological state, such as passion, suffering, and anxiety. The rough surface, as if the brush has just passed and the paint hasn't dried, gives a sensation of entering Van Gogh's mental world.

In contrast, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres' 'The Valpinçon Bather (1808)' is an example of texture expressed in a completely different manner. This work gives the feeling of looking at a smooth marble sculpture from the Greek era. Despite being an oil painting, Ingres depicted the woman's skin in a soft, idealized form by applying paint with hardly any visible brushstrokes. The flowing folds of the curtain and the crumpled turban contrast with the woman's smooth skin, further emphasizing its texture. It conveys a smooth feeling, almost like photographic printing paper.

As seen in these examples, texture in painting is expressed variously through the type of paint, its consistency, and the brushstrokes, and it becomes an important factor in determining the emotion and atmosphere of a work.

Texture in Photography

Next, let's explore how texture is expressed in photography. In photography, physical texture can only be represented by the surface of the print itself or a smooth surface. Therefore, texture in photographs is primarily expressed through the texture inherent in the subject being photographed and through the visual effects of the photograph itself.

Let's take Edward Weston's photograph of a cabbage as an example. This work depicts an everyday vegetable as if it were a sculptural piece. He shot with the aperture stopped down as much as possible to ensure the entire subject was sharp, resulting in the detailed and vivid rendering of the curvature, wrinkles, and structure of each cabbage leaf. This photograph transcends a simple still life, sometimes feeling like an abstract painting capturing an endless valley. Such hyperrealistic textural expression allows us to perceive something beyond the mere essence of the subject.

Furthermore, one can feel diverse textures in Ahae's water photo series. While looking at the water series, you can feel that even though it is the same water, the texture is expressed differently in each work. This is because the appearance of water constantly changes depending on light, wind, and weather. Sometimes it looks like melting metal, sometimes smooth like glass, and at other times it appears like rough, hard stone.

When enlarged, the photos can reveal abstract and mysterious textures that resemble the surface of an alien planet. Looking at these photos enlarged, the texture becomes even more vivid, and though it is clearly water, it sometimes appears like the surface of a different material. For this reason, contemporary photographers often print their works in large format or on textured paper, such as handmade paper. This allows the visual texture of the photograph to combine with the physical texture of the paper, conveying a much richer and more vivid sensation.

Another photograph by Ahae, showing snow and rocks, offers an overall abstract feel. The white snow, dark rocks, and rock shadows create differences in light and shadow, which give us a vivid sense of three-dimensionality. The scattered bird footprints on the white snow contrast with the softness of the quietly piled snow, creating a cheerful rhythm, and the dry grass tuft in the lower right corner adds a dry, brittle texture that feels as if it could rustle. The harmony of these different textures creates an atmosphere for the entire work that is quiet yet full of vitality.

In yet another photo by Ahae, featuring a roe deer, texture can be felt through camera technique. In this work, you can feel the movement of the deer and the swaying of the grass, the wind rustling the grass, the sound of the wind, and even the scent of the grass moving in the wind. In addition to visual and tactile texture, auditory and olfactory textures can also be felt. Texture can also be expressed through the use of specific shooting techniques. In this photo, a panning technique was used, where the camera is moved slightly centered on the subject. Panning adds a texture that is akin to applying paint thickly and quickly with a brush in painting, and the degree of subtle camera movement can express various levels of speed and textural thickness. This technique can also maximize the visual effect across the entire frame.

Thus, texture is an element of art that can be expressed in various ways not only in painting but also in photography, and it can be felt in some form in every artwork.

Today, we have explored the texture present in artworks through the works of several artists. In Van Gogh's work, we felt an incredibly rough and strong texture, in Ingres' work, a smooth and refined texture, and in Ahae's work, a constantly changing texture depending on the subject and technique.

The texture within artworks does not merely stop at the senses of sight and touch; it stimulates various senses including hearing and smell, and plays a crucial role in forming the atmosphere and emotion of a piece. Especially in contemporary art, texture is further emphasized and is experimentally utilized in various media such as abstract painting and photography. It can be called a sensory language that allows us to appreciate, feel, and connect with the work more deeply. How about you try to experience texture using various senses the next time you appreciate an artwork?