Why is the thick paint in Van Gogh's paintings often crushed?

"My dear Theo, Tomorrow I’ll send you a roll of canvases by goods train. There are four of them:

1. Orchard in Blossom with View of Arles
2. The ivy
3. The lilacs
4. Pink chestnut trees in the botanical gardens in Arles."

(Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, July 1889)

Impacted impasto

Vincent shipped his paintings from the South of France to his brother in Paris by train. Many of these paintings kept unrolled until long after both brothers died and still show thick paint that was crushed, also called "impacted impasto”.

Orchard in Blossom with View of Arles

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Orchard in Blossom with View of Arles.