Annunciation 1527

This ‘Annunciation’ was made by Jacopo Pontormo, likely sometime in the 1520s or 30s, using fresco. Fresco is a demanding technique. The artist had to apply pigment to wet plaster, meaning that each section had to be completed relatively quickly, before the plaster dried. Pontormo was evidently a master of this process; you can see the confidence in his brushstrokes and the vibrant, lasting colors he achieved. But look closer. Notice how the figures almost seem to float, with elongated limbs and ethereal drapery. This isn't just about technical skill; it's a deliberate aesthetic choice. The artist is manipulating his medium to achieve a sense of otherworldly grace, pushing the boundaries of traditional representation. Pontormo engaged with fresco, then, not simply as a means to an end, but as a way to explore new possibilities in artmaking, using materials and processes to challenge the status quo. He was using the existing techniques, while adding his own voice, paving the way for future generations of artists.