Love By The River’s Edge 

Hans Zatzka created “Love By The River’s Edge” using oil paint, a medium which allows for soft, luminous effects. Oil paint, while considered traditional now, was once an innovative technology. The slow drying time allows for blending and layering, crucial to the hazy atmosphere and delicate rendering of skin. Zatzka likely used a variety of brushes, from large blenders to fine detail brushes, and his canvas would have been carefully prepared with gesso to ensure a smooth surface. Think about the labor involved; from the grinding of pigments to the construction of the canvas, each step is a process. The soft eroticism of the image is achieved only through the intense labor required to become proficient in oil painting, a cultural tradition that reflects the values and norms of its time. By considering materials, making, and context, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork, and move beyond conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.