Portrait of Adolf Bayersdorfer 1875

Arnold Böcklin painted this portrait of Adolf Bayersdorfer in 1875, using traditional oil paints on canvas. The very nature of oil paint lends itself to layers, and Böcklin uses this property to create a rich surface texture. Look closely, and you'll see how each brushstroke contributes to the overall impression. The blurred background pushes Bayersdorfer forward, an effect achieved through the careful manipulation of pigment and brushwork. Portraits like this were luxury items, commissions that reflected the sitter's status and wealth. In a sense, it's a commodity created through a collaboration between artist and patron. Böcklin’s skill as a painter, honed through years of training and practice, is what makes this commodity so desirable. And the very act of painting, the labor involved, is part of its value. The brushstrokes are a record of his time and effort, making visible the social and economic relationship that made the work possible.