The Angry Mother 

Jean-Baptiste Greuze made "The Angry Mother" using pen and brown wash on paper. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the scene's raw emotion. The ink wash technique, with its varying densities, creates a sense of depth and volume, typical of drawings made in preparation for paintings, rather than finished works in themselves. The fluid application of ink allowed Greuze to swiftly capture the scene's spontaneity. Look at the angular lines used to create an underlying emotive atmosphere. It's interesting to consider the materials used to make the clothes in the image and how these reveal the emotional and social struggles of the subject. What kind of labor went into making the garments, and how do these materials reflect the economic realities of the characters? By focusing on the material aspects of the image, and the social context in which the artwork was produced, we gain a richer understanding of its historical and cultural significance. This reveals the intersection between art, craft, and the daily lives of 18th-century society.