The Bay of Naples 1845

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky made this romantic depiction of the Bay of Naples using oil paint, a medium with a rich history in art. But what's important to realize is that oil paint, while traditional, was increasingly industrialized in the 19th century. Before then, artists like Aivazovsky would have mixed their own paints, a laborious process involving grinding pigments and blending them with oil. But with industrialization, paint became more readily available in tubes. This ready-made quality surely impacted how Aivazovsky approached his work. It allowed for greater spontaneity and a focus on capturing fleeting atmospheric effects, like the golden light over the bay and the smoke drifting from Vesuvius. Also, the painting is not just a pretty picture, it can be seen in relation to labor and class. While depicting a serene scene enjoyed by presumably wealthy onlookers, the painting indirectly acknowledges the industrial processes that made its creation possible, obscuring the labor involved in paint production within its picturesque view. So, next time you look at an oil painting, remember it is not just pigment and oil, but also a product of evolving industrial systems and a changing social landscape.