The Fall of New Amsterdam 

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris painted The Fall of New Amsterdam using oil on canvas, rendering a historical scene with precision. Ferris’s technique is meticulous, indicative of academic training and a desire to accurately depict a historical event. The artist employs layers of paint to achieve realistic textures in clothing, skin, and architecture. He even adds subtle details to reflect light and shadow, capturing the mood of the moment. Ferris also carefully renders the textures and materials of the clothing and weaponry, as well as the different ethnic groups involved in the scene. This wasn't just about aesthetic considerations; painting itself had become industrialized by the late 19th century. The rise of manufacturing made materials more accessible, but also contributed to labor divisions. Ferris’s work, while seemingly traditional, reflects the broader transformations happening in art production. The artist's choice to use industrial materials and painting techniques highlights the shifts in creative labor and artistic expression.