Head study 1898

This is a head study painted by Joan Brull likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, using traditional oil paints on canvas. The ways in which Brull has handled his materials, applying them in a loose, almost sketch-like fashion, influences the appearance of the portrait. The soft, blended brushstrokes give the figure a sense of ethereal beauty, typical of the Symbolist movement to which Brull belonged. Yet the visible strokes also remind us of the artist’s hand and the labor involved in creating this image. In the context of the late 1800s, oil painting was a well-established, almost industrialized medium. Pigments were mass-produced, and artists could readily purchase prepared canvases. This commercial aspect contrasts with the art's subject matter, which evokes a timeless, idealized vision of nature. The young woman crowned with leaves recalls classical imagery, yet is rendered with a modern sensibility. Ultimately, the meaning of this work lies in the intersection of its materials, its making, and its cultural context, bridging the gap between fine art and craft.