The Holy Family with Saint Anne and the Infant John the Baptist c. 1595 - 1600

"The Holy Family with Saint Anne and the Infant John the Baptist" was painted by El Greco with oil on canvas. The artist's working process profoundly influenced the painting's appearance. El Greco built up the image through layers of brushwork, creating a sense of light emanating from within the figures. The artist was clearly skilled in the Venetian tradition, where colorito - an emphasis on layering and tonality of color – was prized. However, El Greco wasn't just applying paint; he was also manipulating its inherent qualities. Notice the texture, weight, and form that the impasto brushstrokes give to the figures' drapery and skin. The religious scene gains depth through this material expressiveness. While we may think of "fine art" as separate from "craft," El Greco's painting reminds us that materials and making are central to understanding art's full meaning and significance.