Parnassus 1900

Henryk Siemiradzki created 'Parnassus' using oil paint on canvas. In this academic style of painting, the visible brushstrokes are minimized so the final surface of the painting is smooth and porcelain-like. The production of such a large, detailed canvas would have required a well-organized studio, employing assistants to prepare materials and work on less critical areas. The artist’s own labor is therefore amplified by that of others. The smooth surface of 'Parnassus' belies the labor that went into its creation; the artist’s hand, although present in the design and final execution, is somewhat distanced from the physical making. Siemiradzki creates an idealized vision of art and culture, obscuring the real social conditions of artistic production. This erasure is characteristic of academic painting, which aimed to create timeless images, free from the messiness of everyday life.