Artist's Wife with Pegasus 1913

Józef Mehoffer painted "Artist's Wife with Pegasus" using oil on canvas, a traditional choice that he used to push beyond conventional portraiture. Consider the way Mehoffer has worked the paint. Look closely, and you'll notice his distinct brushwork. The quick, broken strokes give a sense of animation to what could have been a static scene, especially in the background, where a stylized Pegasus prances amidst roses, creating a dreamlike effect. The material qualities of the oil paint itself contribute to this feeling. Its viscosity allows for layering and blending, creating subtle gradations of color and texture, notably in the wife's blue coat and boa. These would have been costly items, marking the couple's place in society. The overall effect speaks to the artist's engagement with symbolism, while simultaneously creating an image of bourgeois luxury. Ultimately, Mehoffer's work challenges the hierarchy between fine art and craft, elevating the decorative to the level of high art.