The Wedding at Cana, Jesus Blesses the Water 1660

Jan Cossiers created The Wedding at Cana with oil paint on canvas. What immediately strikes you is the luxurious materiality of the scene, rendered with incredible skill. Look at how the artist uses light to bring out the texture of the fabrics, the sheen of the metalware, the rich colors of the food. In 17th-century Flemish painting, this kind of visual abundance was a commodity. It was made possible by an increasingly globalized economy, and sustained by the labor of many people both near and far. The making of the painting itself reflects social structures. Cossiers would have prepared his own paints, grinding pigments and mixing them with oil. This craft-based process gave him a deep understanding of his materials, enabling him to create this illusion of reality. But beyond the artist, think about the servants in the painting, and the labor required to produce and serve the banquet. So, in viewing this painting, consider not only its aesthetic qualities, but also the social and economic systems that made it possible. By appreciating the materiality of the work and the processes involved in its creation, we can gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance.