Portrait of Faktor Fjellerups Kone 

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg made this oil painting, Portrait of Faktor Fjellerups Kone, at an unknown date. Eckersberg used traditional materials of canvas, oil paints, and varnish to create this portrait. His approach emphasized a certain technical skill and command of pictorial space. The work is also embedded in a larger social and economic context. While it may not explicitly address issues of labor or class, the choice of materials and subject matter reflects societal norms and hierarchies. The crispness and tight rendering speak to a desire to present a world of commodities as seamless, erasing the conditions of their production. Paying attention to the materials, making, and context helps us appreciate the intricate connections between art, society, and the world around us, blurring the line between fine art and the wider world.