Fernand Corot, the Painter s Grand Nephew, at the Age of 4 and a Half Years 1863

This is Camille Corot’s painting of his grand-nephew, made with oil on canvas. Although painting is often thought of as an elite pursuit, the materiality of paint speaks volumes about the labor involved in its production and application. Here, Corot uses thin layers of paint to create a luminous effect, capturing the soft features of the young boy. The visible brushstrokes reveal the artist's hand, reminding us of the physical act of painting, and the time taken to complete it. It also subtly implies a social context: that of a family member with the leisure to sit for a portrait. Oil paint, made from ground pigments and linseed oil, was a readily available material in the 19th century. The industrial revolution increased manufacturing and made paint and canvas commercially accessible, leading to more artists being able to focus on their creative practice. By focusing on the material qualities and the techniques of painting, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural values embedded in Corot’s work.