Prayer in a Village 

Niko Pirosmani painted ‘Prayer in a Village’ using oil on oilcloth, a cheap substitute for canvas reflecting his humble circumstances. The surface texture of the oilcloth shines through the paint layers, lending the work a raw, almost fresco-like quality. Pirosmani was self-taught, drawing inspiration from local Georgian life. His materials weren't traditional art supplies but were rooted in everyday life, like his use of commercially produced black oilcloth typically used for tablecloths or shop signs. This choice influences the painting's appearance, creating a matte effect and a distinctive visual language which has imbued the artwork with a cultural significance of humble rural life. Pirosmani was an outsider to the art establishment, and it is his vision, combined with his unusual engagement with the materials, that has created such a potent image. Pirosmani reminds us that the value and meaning of art lie not just in the subject, but in the artist's unique engagement with their materials and context.