Le Lever 1898

Henri Fantin-Latour made this oil painting, titled ‘Le Lever’, sometime in the 19th century. Fantin-Latour builds up layers of thinned oil paint, a process called glazing, to create a luminous effect, particularly evident in the woman’s skin. The artist’s quick, loose brushstrokes define the forms, a stark contrast to the smooth surfaces often seen in academic paintings of the time. This method allows for a certain ambiguity, blurring the lines between the figures and their surroundings. This method of painting reflects broader trends in society. Oil paint, readily available thanks to industrial production, enabled artists like Fantin-Latour to experiment freely. His departure from traditional techniques also suggests a shift in artistic values, favoring individual expression and direct engagement with the material, in defiance of established norms. Ultimately, this work reminds us that the way an artwork is made is just as important as what it depicts. Fantin-Latour’s choice of materials and techniques places him squarely within a network of innovation, and emerging ideas about artistic freedom.