Portrait of V. I. and M. A. Mitrofanovs 

This double portrait by Dmitry Levitzky was painted in oil on canvas. It is not only the representation of a couple, but also an exercise in the art of painting itself. Look closely, and you’ll see that Levitsky’s skill lies in capturing the textures of skin, hair, and fabric. He is particularly good at representing the diaphanous shawl draped over the woman's shoulders. The paint mimics the way light filters through the textile, hinting at the global trade networks that would have brought such luxury goods to Russia. Although portraiture is often viewed as a ‘high art’, the skills involved– mixing paints, preparing the canvas, applying the paint in layers – are not so different from those of a craftsperson. In fact, Levitzky trained as a craftsman before turning to fine art. Considering the labor and the materials that went into this painting reminds us that all art objects are also material objects, connected to the wider world of making and consumption.