Meleager and Atalanta 1624

Jacob Jordaens created this painting on canvas, with oil paints, sometime in the 17th century. As you can see, the artist deployed the classic techniques of oil painting: layering, glazing, and blending to create depth and realism. But it’s the very materiality of paint – its viscosity, opacity, and luminosity – that makes this picture so compelling. Notice how Jordaens uses thick impasto strokes to capture the texture of skin, fabric, and fur; how he manipulates light and shadow to create dramatic contrasts. These techniques are deeply rooted in the traditions of the Old Masters. Jordaens was not only a skilled craftsman, but also a shrewd businessman who ran a large workshop, and whose assistants would have prepared pigments, stretched canvases, and laid in base layers of paint. This division of labor was common in the 17th century. So, while we appreciate the artistic vision behind "Meleager and Atalanta," let’s also acknowledge the vital role of making and process in its creation.