Allegory of Truth 

Hans Canon’s “Allegory of Truth” is an oil painting, a medium that allows for rich color and the layering of meaning. Consider the labor that is embodied in this painting. Truth, as Canon depicts her, is literally being dressed and adorned by figures representing the arts, sciences, and virtues. We see the application of makeup, the adjustment of a crown. All this has its parallel in the labor that Canon himself performed in the studio, grinding pigments and applying them to the canvas, building up the image layer by layer. Canon is telling us something important here. “Truth” is not self-evident. It must be actively supported, created, and communicated. We must value the means of its production. What is the value of this skilled work? This is Canon’s challenge to us. It underscores the importance of craft, and materiality, in understanding an artwork’s full meaning.