Pavel Vasil'evich Golenistchev-Kutuzov, Russian General, Military Governor of St.-Petersburg 1824

This is a portrait of Pavel Vasil'evich Golenistchev-Kutuzov, a Russian General, and Military Governor of St. Petersburg, painted by George Dawe in the 19th century. Dawe worked in a well-established tradition of oil painting on canvas, using brushes to apply layers of pigment. However, looking closely, one can see the ways in which Dawe has used his materials to depict the subject's status. The layering and blending of oil paint creates a smooth, almost porcelain-like finish to the general's face, indicative of the sitter's elevated position. Meanwhile, the heavy gold embroidery of the uniform is rendered with thick impasto, catching the light to signify wealth and power. The painting is also a product of its time, as the industrial revolution had brought about the mass production of paints, making art more accessible. By focusing on the materiality of the painting, we can appreciate the artist's skill and understand the social context in which the work was created. It reminds us that even traditional fine art techniques are embedded in the wider world of labor, materials, and production.