The Artist's Sisters Signe and Henriette Reading a Book 1826

Constantin Hansen made this painting of his sisters sometime in the mid-19th century, using oil on canvas, which was a pretty standard material for the time. What I find most compelling is how Hansen deploys this conventional medium. It's clear he had rigorous academic training, given the way he captures the light on the girls' skin, and the folds of their dresses. But look closer, and you can see the labor involved. Hansen doesn't hide the marks of his brush; they give texture to the surfaces. He is drawing attention to the materiality of the paint itself. Even the act of reading is subtly highlighted. The book is obviously the focal point of the image, and the book is also an object made through the collective labour of a print shop. So, although this appears to be a simple domestic scene, it quietly acknowledges the broader world of work and production. It is a powerful reminder that the artistic process itself is a form of work, no different from any other.