Boleslaw the Chaste 

Jan Matejko painted Boleslaw the Chaste using oil on canvas. Oil paint offers a smooth surface and allows for layering of colors. You can see this particularly in the face, where Matejko has built up the hues to capture a likeness of the Polish ruler. Of course, oil painting has a long and fascinating history. Originating centuries earlier, by the 1800's when this was made, it was a well-established medium inextricably linked with the idea of fine art. Here, it allows Matejko to depict the trappings of royalty - the hat, the patterned fabric, the subtle glint of metal in the details. His labor is evidenced by the skillful blending of tones, and the implied richness of the King’s attire. The painting’s worth, once it was made, would have reflected both Matejko’s artistic skill and his subject’s social status. So, think about the way materials and techniques can carry meaning. This portrait shows how even the most traditional artistic methods are tied to the wider world of labor, politics, and consumption.