Femme au balcon 

Alfred Stevens painted "Femme au balcon" with oil on canvas; a method that has roots in the early 15th century. Looking closely, you can see the artist used broad brushstrokes, and varied the paint thickness to create a feeling of depth and texture. The opulence of the dress, a site of considerable labor in its making, signals the privilege afforded to the figure who wears it. And yet, in its industrially printed pattern, we also see the advent of mass production. The composition places the woman at an ambiguous threshold between interior and exterior, perhaps evoking the social constraints and expectations placed upon women of her class. By examining how the artwork was made and what materials were used, we get a glimpse into the complex interplay of labor, class, and gender dynamics of the time. This approach expands our understanding of the artwork beyond its aesthetic qualities, challenging the traditional distinctions between art and craft.